Red Bull ready for a celebration at scenic Spielberg

Red Bull are ready for a homecoming party as they celebrate 100 wins in Formula One with a sellout crowd at the first Austrian Grand Prix since the death last October of the team's billionaire owner Dietrich Mateschitz.

Max Verstappen, Red Bull's runaway leader and winner of six of eight races so far this season as he heads for his third championship in a row, will be favourite to make it 101 at Spielberg on Sunday.

The Dutch 25-year-old can become the most successful driver in Austrian Grand Prix history if he wins for a fourth time, one more than the record he shares with French great Alain Prost.

Verstappen already has four wins at the scenic circuit, having also won the 2021 Styrian Grand Prix.

"It’s great to be going back to Austria with this run of results," said team boss Christian Horner after Verstappen's landmark win in Canada.

"There’ll be a big home crowd, it’s a sellout and they always put on a big event. I think this year’s event will be maybe the biggest event they’ve ever put on."

Security will be tighter and more visible after some spectators reported racist, sexist and homophobic abuse last year, with alcohol no longer allowed into the event. Rain is also forecast for Friday and Saturday.

Austria is the second sprint of the season, a chance for Verstappen to stretch his huge 69 point lead over team mate Sergio Perez who has not featured on the podium for the last three races.

Verstappen won the sprint in Austria last year but Ferrari's Charles Leclerc triumphed on Sunday with his Dutch rival second and Perez failing to finish after a first lap collision with Mercedes' George Russell.

Ferrari have had just one podium so far this season, on a sprint weekend in Baku when Leclerc finished third on Sunday, and have