F1 heads to Austria: What you should know about the technical Red Bull Ring circuit

Originally built in 1969, the circuit outside Spielberg, Austria, hosted its first Formula 1 race in 1970.

Known as the Osterreichring, the circuit was built to replace the Zeltweg Airfield circuit and would host F1 races until 1987.

But as is the case with F1, circuits don't always stay on the calendar forever, and the Osterreichring took a hiatus until 1997. However, in 1995/6, Hermann Tilke, the man responsible for many F1 circuits today, was tasked with modernising the circuit, and it was then renamed the A1-Ring.

With the opening occurring in 1996, the action resumed in '97, with Jacques Villeneuve winning on the day. Again, the A1-Ring remained on the calendar for just a few years, the last in 2003.

New owners, new name

In 2004, Red Bull's late owner, Dietrich Mateschitz, purchased the A1-Ring - the same year he bought Jaguar from Ford. Both the A1-Ring and Jaguar were renamed the Red Bull Ring and Red Bull F1 team, respectively, and in 2014, Spielberg returned to the F1 calendar.

The 2014 return coincided with the sport's turbo-hybrid era, and the Red Bull Ring has presented a unique challenge to teams and drivers with their new machinery.

The Red Bull Ring consists of 10 corners and three long straights. The straights, situated between Turns 10 and Turn 4, each have a DRS zone, with the rest of the track a technical gremlin that can punish a driver for any mistake made.

The race around the 4.318km Red Bull Ring runs for 71 laps for a total race distance of 306.452km.

Carlos Sainz set the race lap record here in 2020, posting a 1:05.619.