STYRIAN/AUSTRIAN GPS
25-27 June 2021 and 2-4 July 2021 Red Bull Ring
THE MAIN EVENT
F1 has played its joker in response to the Covid-related cancellations of the Canadian GP and its putative replacement in Turkey, scheduling back-to-back rounds in the bubble-friendly foothills of Styria. It used to be fashionable to dismiss the Red Bull Ring as a neutered copy of the glorious Österreichring but it has produced some compelling racing since rejoining the F1 calendar in 2014.
In 2020 the same compounds were used in the two rounds here, while changing them between Silverstone’s races; as GP Racing closed for press it hadn’t been decided whether a variation is necessary or do-able here this year.
2020 RACES RECAP
Valtteri Bottas led the season-opening Austrian GP from lights to flag as Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton finished second on track but was demoted to fourth due to a five-second penalty for clipping Alex Albon’s Red Bull as they battled for second. Both Merc drivers had been urged avoid hitting kerbs to prevent damaging their gearboxes.
Charles Leclerc was second for Ferrari as Mclaren’s Lando Norris starred in the final laps, charging to earn a post-race promotion to third at Hamilton’s expense.
A week later rain disrupted qualifying for the Styrian GP but Hamilton still secured pole, while Bottas started from fourth behind Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz. An early Safety Car enabled Bottas to mug Sainz for third, and he bided his time to make a move on Verstappen – lap 66 of 71 – to snatch second behind Hamilton.
KEY CORNER: TURN 1
This tricky corner is on an uphill slope, adding to the difficulty of judging braking effort, and it requires a fast exit for optimal speed on the straight that follows. The kerb after the apex is also hard to judge.
RACE DATA
Venue Red Bull Ring
First GP 1970
Number of laps 71
Circuit length 2.688 miles
Longest straight 0.539 miles
Race distance 190.848 miles
Lap record 1m05.619s Carlos Sainz (2020)
F1 races held 34
Winners from pole 11
Pirelli compounds TBC/C2, C3, C4
CAR PERFORMANCE
Downforce level Low
Cooling requirement Medium
Full throttle 66%
Top speed 192mph
Average speed 140mph
TIMETABLES (UK TIME) STYRIA
Friday 25 June
Practice 1 10.30-11.30
Practice 2 14:00-15.00
Saturday 26 June
Practice 3 11:00-12.00
Qualifying 14:00-15.00
Sunday 27 June
Race 14:00
AUSTRIA
Friday 2 July
Practice 1 10.30-11.30
Practice 2 14:00-15.00
Saturday 3 July
Practice 3 11:00-12.00
Qualifying 14:00-15.00
Sunday 4 July
Race 14:00
Live coverage Sky Sports F1
Highlights Channel 4