As F1 heads to the Red Bull Ring for Round Nine of 2023 season, here is a preview to the weekend ahead.
With this race marking Red Bull’s home race as a constructor despite being based in Milton Keynes, Great Britain, the Austrian outfit will be eager to continue their unbeaten start to the season with Max Verstappen looking to clinch his 42nd win in F1.
Aston Martin and Mercedes though head the chasing pack who will be eager to spring a surprise on a weekend which sees the ‘Sprint Saturday’ format return with a Sprint Shootout and Race alongside the main action.
Now, here is a guide to everything that you need to know ahead of 2023 Austrian Grand Prix.
Track Guide
Circuit: Red Bull Ring
Laps: 71
Race Distance: 306.452km
Tyre Compounds: C3, C4 & C5
Schedule
| Date | Session | Time (BST) |
| Friday 30 June | FP1 | 12:30pm |
| Friday 30 June | Qualifying | 4:00pm |
| Saturday 1 July | Sprint Shootout | 11:00am |
| Saturday 1 July | Sprint Race | 3:30pm |
| Sunday 2 July | Race | 2:00pm |
Five Key Pointers
- Some teams are planning to bring upgrades but will face a tough task in understanding their performance, with just one practice session before Qualifying on Friday.
- Having struggled in Azerbaijan in the sprint weekend format compared to their relative early-season pace, Aston Martin will be looking for a much cleaner weekend in Austria.
- Located at 677 metres above sea level, the Red Bull Ring will pose issues in terms of temperature management of brakes and power units which could mean reliability playing a part this weekend.
- With plenty of overtaking opportunities available on this Sprint weekend, there is opportunity for tyre strategies to potentially prove crucial to results for several teams across both races.
- Rain is forecast across the weekend with mixed forecasts for all three days which could certainly provide an additional challenge in breaking zones, especially on downhill run to Turn 3.
Last Time Out
2022 saw Austria run the Sprint weekend format with Verstappen dominating the Sprint but the two-time champion was outclassed in the main race, as Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc gambled on a triumphant three-stop strategy which saw him make a race-winning overtake on Lap 53.