Welcome to the Red Bull Ring, the site of what is quite possibly the prettiest setting for an F1 track at the scenic Styrian mountains of Spielberg, and host to the Austrian Grand Prix.
Aside from a breathtaking backdrop, the circuit offers a blend of fast straights, tight corners, and elevation changes in just 10 turns.
After dropping out of the sport in the early 00s, the track returned to Formula 1 in 2014 and has cemented itself as one of the more entertaining races on the calendar.
Circuit Overview:
The Red Bull Ring is a short 4.318 km (2.683 miles) track with 10 turns and some of the shortest lap times and highest average speeds.
Turn 1 and turn 3 have uphill braking zones that aid overtaking, with turn 3's tight corner allowing for classic up-and-under moves to pass and defend.
What goes up must go down, and turn 4's downhill entry is tricky to slow down into, with the remaining five corners in Sectors 2 and 3 usually being single file, but the short run means a driver never waits long for their next opportunity.
Fast Facts
Circuit Name: Red Bull Ring
Location: Spielberg, Styria
First Grand Prix: 1970
Circuit Length: 4.326 km (2.688 miles)
Race Distance: 307.018 km (190.772 miles)
Laps: 71
Race Lap Record: 1:07.924 (Oscar Piastri, McLaren, 2025)
2026 Support Series: Formula 2, Formula 3
Alex Albon Last Year
Race: DNF
Fastest Lap: 1:10.641 (Lap 9)
Qualifying: P12 (1:05.205)
Tyre Strategy: Medium-Medium
Carlos Sainz Last Year
Race: DNS
Fastest Lap: N/A
Qualifying: P19 (1:05.582)
Tyre Strategy: N/A
Williams’ Austrian GP History
Best Finish: P1 (Nigel Mansell, 1987 / Jacques Villeneuve, 1997)
Best Qualifying: P1 (Nelson Piquet, 1987 / Jacques Villeneuve, 1997 / Felipe Massa, 2014)
Alex's Best Finish: P11 (2023)
Carlos' Best Finish: P3 (2024)
Williams Highlight: Felipe stopped a seven-race run of Mercedes pole positions in 2014, with the Brazilian and Valtteri Bottas locking out the front row by a tenth in the only non-Mercedes P1 start of the entire season.