Austrian Grand Prix

The Austrian Grand Prix (German: Großer Preis von Österreich) is a Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile sanctioned motor racing event that was held in 1964, 1970–1987, and 1997–2003.

Since 1970, the race has been held at the Österreichring, currently known as the Red Bull Ring due to its ownership by the Austrian drinks company of the same name.

Ever since it returned to the calendar, the Austrian Grand Prix is typically held during the mid-season rounds of the Formula One World Championship, with one exception: the Austrian Grand Prix was held as the season opener in 2020, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns disrupting the season.

The race was a success, but the track was deemed too dangerous; it was narrow and very bumpy, and spectators complained of poor viewing areas.

1978 saw the dominant Lotus 79s on the front row, and American Mario Andretti crashed at the Glatz Kurve on the first lap, and his teammate, Swede Ronnie Peterson took victory.

After Prost's retirement, the race turned into a dead-heat sprint between Italian Elio de Angelis in a Lotus and Finn Keke Rosberg in a Williams.

The 1985 race saw a fearsome crash at the Panorama Curve when Andrea de Cesaris spectacularly rolled his Ligier, which led to him being fired from the team.

Increasing speeds were also a growing problem at the Österreichring: that year, polesitter Nelson Piquet averaged 159.457 mph (255.756 km/h) in his 1,100 hp Honda-powered Williams.

The whole layout was redesigned by Hermann Tilke, and the track lost all of its long, sweeping corners, aside from the Texaco Bends (which were made shorter and slower) and the Hella-Licht chicane, Flatschach, Dr. Tiroch curve and the first half of the backstretch run up to where the Bosch-Kurve was taken out and replaced with a bypass that went directly to the second half of the fast, uphill backstretch.

The 2002 event received negative publicity after Ferrari instructed Rubens Barrichello to cede his victory to Michael Schumacher.

In July 2013, it was reported that the circuit's new owners Red Bull GmbH had reached an agreement with Bernie Ecclestone to revive the Austrian Grand Prix after a ten-year absence from the calendar.

The controversial Ferrari 1–2 crossing the finish line in 2002 .
Special events are commonly held before the Grand Prix.
The Österreichring with the chicane, used from 1977 to 1987
The original Österreichring, used from 1969 to 1976
Zeltweg Airfield, used from 1963 until 1968