What makes the Austrian Grand Prix special – and why you should see it

The Austrian Grand Prix is a classic, and might just be held at one of the most picturesque track on the F1 calendar. Set in the Styrian hills, around 700m above sea level, the short track features rapid lap times and plenty of overtaking opportunities.

Despite the Red Bull Ring having the fewest corners of any circuit on the schedule, it's seen many unforgettable moments throughout the years – and, as the name might suggest, is the track that Red Bull calls home.

Let's take a look at just some of the reasons why Austria is so alluring.

Austrian racing heritage

Austria, despite it's relatively small population, has heaps of racing heritage. Triple World Champion Niki Lauda was born in Vienna, winning titles for Ferrari and McLaren, and was a major factor behind Mercedes’ success while helping convince Lewis Hamilton to join the outfit in 2013.

Jochen Rindt was Austria's first champion – the only posthumous F1 title winner, having tragically passed away during his dominant 1970 season. Gerhard Berger, while never taking the title himself, scored 10 wins during his illustrious career.

More recently, the late Austrian entrepreneur Dietrich Mateschitz and former Austrian F1 racer Helmut Marko – in his role as motorsport advisor – played key roles in Red Bull's success, with the team clinching eight Drivers’ and six Constructors’ titles.

When is the 2026 Austrian Grand Prix?

The 2026 Austrian Grand Prix weekend begins on Friday 26 June, with F1 cars hitting the track for the first two Free Practice sessions, before Free Practice 3 and Qualifying take place on Saturday 27 June. The Grand Prix itself is on Sunday 28 June, at 1500 local time.

Check out the RACE HUB to see when each F1 session starts in your local time zone, wherever you are in the world.

Why we love the Red Bull Ring

It’s not the longest circuit, but the Red Bull Ring packs a lot into a short lap. The first half rewards power, as the cars blast along three straights separated by a pair of uphill right-handers. But then, as the drivers work their way downhill, the circuit becomes a thrilling ride through a series of quick corners – including the exhilarating Rindt right-hander.

The surface can punish tyres, leading to exciting races full of strategy, while heavy-braking zones create exciting overtakes. There are small gravel traps on the exits of Turn 9 and 10 too, adding another layer of challenge to the circuit.

Race tracks don’t come much more picturesque than the Red Bull Ring either, set as it is in an idyllic natural bowl in the Styrian foothills.

The weekend schedule is full of action and there's plenty to look forward to every day, with F1 Free Practice, Qualifying and the Grand Prix all supported by other categories. That means even more opportunities to see cars on track.

There’s fantastic live entertainment, enthusiastic support and a superb atmosphere.

During the day there's the stacked F1 Fanzone too, with activities, entertainment, and the chance to see drivers and team representatives live on stage.

You'll arguably find one of Formula 1’s best views in the circuit’s ‘Nord’ grandstand, with a great vantage point across much of the track as it drops away.

Memorable moments in Spielberg

The Red Bull Ring has served up some unforgettable standout moments throughout the years since first hosting an F1 weekend in 1970.

We couldn’t possibly list them all, but here’s a selection to whet you appetite for more…

1975 – Vittorio Brambilla took his only F1 win in style, mastering horrendous conditions to claim a half-distance victory in his March as the race was cut short. The Italian was so happy with the win, he lost control of his car as he crossed the line!

1982 – Another Italian driver by the name of Elio de Angelis took a nail-biting victory, beating out future World Champion Keke Rosberg by just 0.05s.

1984 – Niki Lauda finally scored a home win to add to his collection of racing honours, coming home in front of Nelson Piquet despite only having third and fifth gear for the final laps.

2002 – Team orders saw Ferrari’s Rubens Barrichello relinquish first position on the start/finish straight after dominating the race, handing team mate Michael Schumacher victory. The Austrian crowd voiced their displeasure, with the German then pushing Barrichello onto the top step of the podium and handing him the winner's trophy.

2016 – Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg clashed for the second time in five races. Rosberg picked up front wing damage and a ten-second penalty for his final-lap move defending against his team mate, costing him a podium, while Hamilton survived to take P1.

2019 – Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen battled all race long, swapping positions numerous times, but the Dutchman ultimately took the flag first after an aggressive move with two laps to go.

2020 – Lando Norris secured his first F1 podium by just 0.2 seconds after a late fastest lap, hustling hard on the final few laps to close the gap after Hamilton was given a five-second time penalty.

2024 – Norris and Verstappen dramatically collided while fighting for lead, leaving the pair with punctures and George Russell to take his second career win.

How can I watch the Austrian Grand Prix?

Nothing beats being there! Head to F1 Tickets to secure your place and catch all the action in person. F1 Experiences has a great range of premium ticket packages too, getting you closer to Formula 1 than ever before.

For details of the broadcaster in your area, click here.

You can also watch the drama unfold via F1 TV Pro (in selected countries only).