The Red Bull Ring sits in Spielberg, Austria, in the Styrian mountains. Rich green hills and the imposing Styrian Alps surround it, so few other circuits can match its picturesque backdrop. It also delivers thrilling racing, nail-biting overtakes and strategic gambles, and its mix of history, high-speed layout and challenging characteristics makes it a favourite with fans and drivers.
The story began in 1969, when the track opened as the Österreichring (Austrian Circuit). Sweeping, high-speed corners and dramatic elevation changes made it one of the fastest and most challenging circuits in the world, and it hosted the Austrian Grand Prix from 1970 to 1987. However, increasing safety concerns eventually led to its removal from the Formula 1 calendar.
In the mid-1990s engineers shortened and modernised the track to meet safety standards, and it reopened in 1997 as the A1-Ring, after the mobile phone provider that paid for most of the construction work. Formula 1 raced there from 1997 to 2003.
The modern chapter began when Red Bull’s Dietrich Mateschitz bought the track and revitalised it with a reconstruction costing around 70 million euros. Red Bull renamed it the Red Bull Ring and reopened it in 2011, and Formula 1 returned in 2014 and has stayed since.
In 2019 organisers renamed the first turn the Niki Lauda Turn in honour of the late Austrian three-time world champion. Then, in 2020 and 2021, the circuit hosted two back-to-back races in each season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the one-off Styrian Grand Prix ran in both years.
The Red Bull Ring Track
The Red Bull Ring is a short track that starts with a series of long straights. Moreover, uphill right-hand turns separate Turns 1, 2 and 3 and reward power, and from there the drivers plunge through a downhill rollercoaster of quick corners, including the overwhelming Rindt right-hander.
Three long straights end in heavy braking zones into tight corners, so the stop-start nature creates prime overtaking opportunities, particularly into Turn 1 (Niki Lauda Turn), Turn 3 (Remus) and Turn 4. Teams often run lower-downforce set-ups to maximise straight-line speed, but the quick, flowing third sector demands a fine balance of downforce and car control.
The circuit sits about 700 metres above sea level and has notable elevation changes of 63.5 metres, about 15 storeys, between its lowest and highest points. For example, drivers tackle inclines of up to 12 per cent and declines of up to 9.3 per cent, and the run uphill towards Turn 3 and the downhill braking into Turn 4 are particular highlights.
It is also one of the shortest circuits in Formula 1 by lap time, because qualifying laps last just over a minute, so there are more laps, more action and less time to recover from mistakes. In recent years it has been notorious for track limits violations, especially at the exits of Turns 9 and 10, and gravel traps there now penalise drivers who run too wide.
Overall, the Red Bull Ring is 4.326 kilometres (2.688 miles) long with 10 corners, and the race runs for 71 laps.
Red Bull Ring Fast Facts
| Red Bull Ring Fast Facts | |
|---|---|
| Detail | Information |
| Grand Prix | Austrian Grand Prix |
| Circuit | Red Bull Ring |
| Location | Spielberg, Austria |
| Lap Length | 4.326 km (2.688 miles) |
| Number Of Laps | 71 |
| Race Distance | 307.146 km (190.852 miles) |
| Number Of Corners | 10 |
| First Grand Prix | 1970 |
Conclusion
The Red Bull Ring stands out for a short, fast lap with only ten corners, so there is little time to recover from a mistake. In addition, our Formula 1 page, the Formula 1 website and the FIA website publish race times, session times, results and official notices.
Questions People Ask
Where Is the Red Bull Ring?
It is in Spielberg, Austria, so the Styrian mountains form the backdrop.
How Long Is the Red Bull Ring?
One lap is 4.326 km (2.688 miles), so a full race of 71 laps adds up to 307.146 km (190.852 miles).
How Many Laps Does the Austrian Grand Prix Have?
The cars run 71 laps, so they cover 307.146 km (190.852 miles) in total.
How Many Corners Does the Red Bull Ring Have?
The lap has 10 corners, so it has one of the lowest totals in Formula 1.
When Did Formula 1 First Race at the Red Bull Ring?
The first Formula 1 race here took place in 1970, when the track was still the Österreichring.
How Much Elevation Change Does the Red Bull Ring Have?
The circuit has about 63.5 metres of elevation change between its lowest and highest points, so it climbs about as high as 15 storeys.
Why Does the First Corner Carry Niki Lauda’s Name?
Organisers renamed it in 2019 so that it honours the late Austrian three-time world champion Niki Lauda.
