Spielberg

The purists may compare the Red Bull Ring unfavourably with the Osterreichring it replaced, but the circuit often provides close racing, passing and drama. After a 10 year absence, the Austrian Grand Prix was restored to the Formula 1 calendar in 1997 on a tight new circuit built on the site of the old Osterreichring. Named as the A1 Ring in deference to Austria’s leading mobile phone provider, Spielberg held the GP for seven years and was the setting for Michael Schumacher’s controversial 2002 victory. Ferrari ordered team-mate Rubens Barrichello to let the German to pass that day, prompting team orders briefly to be officially banned. Red Bull acquired and renamed the circuit in 2004, modernising its facilities and attracting the Austrian GP once again from 2014. Max Verstappen has won four times here for the home team. A series of MotoGP accidents at Turn 3 in 2021 led to a chicane being installed at Turn 2 for motorcycle racing.