When the Austrian Grand Prix made its world championship debut again in 1964, few would have anticipated it to be a calendar fixture greater than 60 years later. The dreary L-shaped format of the short-term monitor on Zeltweg airfield did little to promote anyone on a return to the world.
Zeltweg briefly held on for sportscar races, however the grand prix circus solely returned in 1970 after a everlasting monitor, the Osterreichring, was constructed close by – mainly because of the star energy of the house hero, Jochen Rindt.
Two hiatuses and a few rebuilds later, and what’s now generally known as the Crimson Bull Ring is a well-liked fixture on the calendar – though, within the absence of an area star, the most important draw is now Max Verstappen.
Listed here are just some of probably the most thrilling moments from throughout the Austrian occasion’s 63-year historical past.
2024: Lando vs Max battle will get critical
Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing RB20, battles with Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38
Picture by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Photos
The phrase “laughing all the way in which to the financial institution” has an unsure etymology, however it aptly describes what will need to have been going via George Russell’s head over the ultimate eight laps of the 2024 Austrian GP.
Having certified and run third, the Mercedes driver inherited victory after Lando Norris tried to overhaul Max Verstappen across the exterior at Flip 3, solely to have the exit door slammed in his face. Norris picked up a puncture, which ended his race, whereas Verstappen limped again to the pits, took on new tyres, and recovered to cross the road fifth.
Although the Dutchman’s place was unaffected by the 10-second time penalty he obtained, he additionally picked up the primary of a cluster of penalty factors that now go away him on the cusp of a race ban going into the 2025 occasion.
2020: Rise of the Machines
Valtteri Bottas celebrates on the rostrum with the trophy and race winner Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen
Picture by: FIA Pool
Ah, the summer time of 2020, when all of your acquaintances who beforehand turned on the spot specialists on the trivia of worldwide commerce immediately knew extra about messenger RNA vaccine improvement than those that had laboured lengthy for PhDs on the subject.
A compressed schedule and ‘bubbled’ journey preparations enabled F1 to carry sufficient races to adjust to its broadcast contract obligations, although this ‘fudge’ required a number of venues to host double-headers. Step ahead the Crimson Bull Ring, which hosted back-to-back Austrian and Styrian Grands Prix because the season openers in early July.
To make sure no one was breathed upon by strangers, the trophies have been conveyed to their recipients by robots. The magic of expertise!
Good factor the present FIA president wasn’t in workplace on the time – he would little question have needed one other bot circulating with a life-sized effigy of himself perched atop it.
2019: Max faculties Charles
Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing RB15, collides with Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF90
Picture by: Lorenzo Bellanca / Motorsport Photos
Performing as an hors d’oeuvre for the 2024 occasion, Charles Leclerc obtained a salutary lesson within the artwork of bare-knuckle combating whereas defending what he hoped could be his first grand prix victory.
Leclerc, then in his first 12 months at Ferrari, had already seen one potential win go begging in Bahrain, when his engine dropped a cylinder. In Austria, he led from pole whereas Verstappen’s Crimson Bull went into anti-stall mode at first, dropping Max from second to eighth.
Within the early part of the race, it regarded like Leclerc’s chief rivals could be the Mercedes pair of Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas, however the recovering Verstappen elbowed his manner into rivalry – actually.
After rebuffing one lunge from the Dutchman at Flip 3 with 4 laps remaining, Leclerc anticipated to do the identical subsequent time round. However this time, Verstappen’s trajectory on the within line pressured the Ferrari vast and so they bumped wheels, prompting livid exchanges on the radio.
Verstappen crossed the road first however needed to await a stewarding resolution to ratify his win. “If we are able to race that manner,” harrumphed Leclerc, “then I’m very happy to race that manner.”
2016: Lesser-celebrated Rosberg vs Hamilton
Nico Rosberg, Mercedes-Benz F1 W07 Hybrid and Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-Benz F1 W07 Hybrid collide on the final lap
Picture by: Sutton Photos
Lengthy earlier than he turned a paddock rent-a-quote, Nico Rosberg achieved what was regarded as inconceivable by beating Mercedes team-mate Hamilton to the world championship in 2016. Getting there required some guile and there have been bumps alongside the way in which.
Historical past now enshrines the collision between the 2 Mercedes team-mates on lap one in Spain as the height of their rivalry when it comes to on-track rancour. The second was so dramatic that it overshadowed what got here later, in Austria.
Hamilton began from pole and led the primary 12 laps whereas Rosberg began sixth, owing to a grid penalty. A questionable technique name to remain out on the ultrasoft Pirelli tyre compound, adopted by a sluggish pitstop, then delayed Hamilton – who started to voice his doubts about what was happening. That trace of paranoia would develop through the season.
In truth, Mercedes had been planning a one-stop race for Hamilton however in the end needed to abort that and produce him in for one more set of softs. This additionally performed to the Briton’s misgivings, since Rosberg took ultrasofts on his last cease.
The gentle turned out to be extra sturdy and Hamilton chased down Rosberg within the last laps, lunging up the surface at Flip 3 on the ultimate tour. In a quite clear try to dam, Rosberg turned in so late that Hamilton needed to flip in himself or go off monitor. The impression wiped off Rosberg’s entrance wing and he dropped to fourth whereas Hamilton went on to win. And naturally, every driver blamed the opposite.
2002: “Rubens, it is Jean”
Rubens Barrichello, Ferrari, Michael Schumacher, Ferrari
Picture by: Motorsport Photos
The Austrian Grand Prix across the flip of the century was indubitably Michael Schumacher territory – so how come he ended up being booed by his personal followers?
The A1-Ring, because it was then identified, hosted spherical six of the 2002 championship. The German had gained the primary within the B-spec of his ’01 championship-winning F2001, swapped to the brand new F2002 for spherical three and claimed victory in three consecutive races.
It is most peculiar, then, that with Schumacher constructing a commanding championship lead, workforce principal Jean Todt and technical director Ross Brawn ought to think about cynical and determined defensive measures so early. Schumacher’s team-mate Rubens Barrichello, who had been ordered to yield second place to the German on the identical occasion in 2001, was instructed throughout a pre-race assembly that the identical could be anticipated of him once more.
Now, although, the circumstances have been barely totally different: Rubens was on pole and led all through, besides through the pitstop part. When the decision got here to maneuver over, he didn’t obey. The radio site visitors turned heated. TV footage depicted Todt, by no means prone to turn into an achieved poker participant, completely agitated and chafing.
And nonetheless, Barrichello led as the ultimate laps ticked by. Lastly, having rounded the ultimate nook and with the chequered flag in sight, Rubens theatrically decelerated and let his teammate go.
A rigmarole ensued on the rostrum as an embarrassed Schumacher tried to persuade the livid Barichello to face on the highest step. Jeers rippled via the gang.
Shortly afterwards, FIA president Max Mosley introduced a ban on workforce orders. Good luck implementing that.
2001: Montoya’s race goes sideways
Juan Pablo Montoya
Picture by: BMW AG
When Juan Pablo Montoya put Michael Schumacher on the grass at the start of the 2001 Brazilian Grand Prix, phrase within the paddock afterwards was that Montoya had heard the tell-tale indicators of (unlawful) traction management – a slight misfire – coming from Schumacher’s Ferrari and was so incandescent with rage that he merely drove him off on the first nook.
So many groups have been utilizing subtle engine maps to duplicate the consequences of traction management that the FIA was pressured to capitulate and un-ban it, as of the 2001 Spanish Grand Prix. This did little to cut back the rancour that had been build up.
In Austria, Schumacher began from pole with Montoya alongside, however Montoya acquired the higher launch – ironic, given the ructions earlier within the season. Because the lap depend reached double figures, Montoya was nonetheless defending his lead as his Williams’ Michelin tyres started to grain quicker than Schumacher’s Bridgestones.
Nonetheless, Montoya held on till lap 16, when Schumacher acquired alongside on the lengthy drag up in direction of Flip 3, arriving on the surface nearly – however not fairly – forward. Montoya had no intention of relinquishing the lead and dedicated to the hole. His rear tyres gave up first and he arrived on the apex sideways, biffing Schumacher on his option to the gravel lure.
1999: Hakkinen vs Coulthard
Mika Hakkinen, McLaren MP4/14 spins after being hit by workforce mate David Coulthard, McLaren MP4/14
Picture by: Sutton Photos
Towards a backdrop of Schumacher breaking his leg at Silverstone, leaving Ferrari within the considerably unwelcome place of getting to help team-mate Eddie Irvine within the drivers’ championship, McLaren may and will have cashed in.
As an alternative, despite the fact that Mika Hakkinen led the championship with 40 factors to Schumacher and Irvine’s 32, McLaren maintained its coverage of neutrality: allow them to race. David Coulthard at that time was on 22 factors however had simply gained the British Grand Prix, so arrived in Austria on a excessive.
It didn’t final lengthy. Inside moments of Hakkinen and Coulthard ranging from the entrance row of the grid, Coulthard contrived to nerf his teammate right into a spin at – you guessed it – Flip 3. Irvine, who had been a second off in qualifying, gained the race.
1997: I spy
Mika Hakkinen, McLaren Mercedes
Picture by: Motorsport Photos
Within the period earlier than digital pictures, sports activities snappers shot on 35mm ‘transparency’ movie, which might be scanned to be used in print media. Picture modifying was a laborious means of poring over every slide with a light-weight field and a magnifying gadget generally known as a loupe.
It was an much more time-consuming slog for Darren Heath, an modern artist who operated on the riskier finish of the spectrum, usually taking pictures at ultra-low shutter speeds to supply putting and dynamic movement blur. Simply accomplished on a contemporary digital digicam however tougher to execute once you didn’t have an on the spot learn on what the outcomes could be – so he simply shot extra, trusting that no less than one would ship the meant consequence.
After the 1997 Austrian Grand Prix, Heath was hunched over the lightbox, scrutinising his haul, when he seen a really peculiar factor in a lot of his ‘panning’ pictures: a McLaren with a rear brake disc aglow, mid-corner.
It was the primary proof of the so-called ‘fiddle brake’ that McLaren was utilizing to enhance cornering stability. Later, on the German Grand Prix, Heath would find the ‘smoking gun’ – tipped off through a telephone name from F1 Racing journal editor Matt Bishop that David Coulthard had retired, Heath hastened to the scene and grabbed a photograph of the MP4/12’s footwell, which revealed the additional brake pedal.
Not his biggest murals, however one which excited a lot consideration.
1987: The race that began thrice
Nelson Piquet, Williams FW11B and Nigel Mansell, Williams FW11B
Picture by: Sutton Photos
The nineteenth world championship Austrian Grand Prix was to be the final for a decade. Security was already a sizzling subject after Stefan Johansson’s interplay with the native wildlife (a tease of what’s to return), and the Osterreichring’s limitations have been writ massive in a collection of accidents on race day.
Shunt one was pretty normal order for a race begin on a slim circuit in that interval: Martin Brundle’s Zakspeed broke traction on the crest on the start-finish straight (now the location of Flip 1), spun left into the limitations after which again onto the monitor, inflicting these behind to stack up. Adrian Campos introduced his Minardi just about to a standstill, inflicting the Tyrrells of Jonathan Palmer and Phillippe Streiff to crash in avoidance.
On the restart, Nigel Mansell’s second-placed Williams slowed down, triggering a series response as these behind swerved to keep away from it – and one another. As extra vehicles arrived on the scene, the out there area diminished and inside seconds nearly half the grid lay in ruins.
The race lastly acquired underneath manner with a 3rd restart shortly earlier than 5pm.
1987: Deer oh deer
Stefan Johansson and Alain Prost
Picture by: Ercole Colombo
Stefan Johansson has not too long ago shared on social media among the extra graphic pictures of the aftermath of his surprising interface with the Styrian wildlife in observe for the 1987 Austrian GP.
This being the countryside, there’s a chance of untamed animals being round – however the organisers do their greatest to forestall them breaching the fence. In 2001 it was nearly a laughing matter as Juan Pablo Montoya giggled “Oh deer” throughout observe when his engineer radioed to tell him of a hoofed ruminant leaping via one of many gravel traps. Misinterpreting this levity as a request for a extra detailed description, the engineer replied earnestly, “It’s like a horse with horns.”
Johansson’s deer strike was no laughing matter: apart from the high-speed deer-to-cloud conversion, the impression tore the entrance suspension off Johansson’s McLaren and pitched him into the barrier, eradicating all 4 corners. Stefan himself was helicoptered to hospital.
1984: Is there anybody left within the race?
Nelson Piquet, Brabham BT53 BMW, Alain Prost, McLaren MP4/2 TAG
Picture by: Rainer W. Schlegelmilch / Motorsport Photos
Re-watch the 1984 Austrian Grand Prix for a stark reminder of the unreliability that stalked the grid on the peak of the turbo period. Like Joseph Haydn’s Symphony Quantity 45, the place the musicians regularly go away the stage through the coda, barely a lap glided by with out somebody coming to grief.
First of the 26 to go was Manfred Winkelhock, technically a non-starter owing to gearbox bother. Final man on the grid, Huub Rothengatter, lapped so slowly and was out and in of the pits so usually that he had solely clocked up 23 laps by the chequered flag and was not categorised.
A lot of the early retirements got here from exterior the highest 10, till Derek Warwick’s Renault expired on lap 17. Then the attrition actually kicked in, principally engine and gearbox-related, or spins associated to grease dropped from expired engines – as was the case when Elio de Angelis got here to a smoking halt in his Lotus and Alain Prost gyrated on the slick that he had deposited on the way in which again to the pits.
Different casualties on the sharper finish of the grid included Ayrton Senna’s Toleman, Nigel Mansell’s Lotus and Patrick Tambay’s Renault. The one non-mechanical retirement was Keke Rosberg, who introduced his flimsy Williams FW09 into the pits and declared it too harmful to drive.
Solely 12 vehicles have been categorised as finishers and two weren’t working on the finish, Riccardo Patrese having run out of gasoline with three laps to go. Niki Lauda introduced the house crowd to its toes with a victory for McLaren, which teed up his eventual championship triumph.
1982: An in depth name
Elio de Angelis, Lotus 91 simply beats Keke Rosberg, Williams FW08 to the victory
Picture by: Motorsport Photos
The 1982 F1 season is memorable for a lot of causes, not all of them good. However one to cherish is a battle between two drivers desirous to chalk up their first grand prix wins.
Elio de Angelis and Keke Rosberg had been working second and third in Austria behind Alain Prost’s dominant Renault – till Prost’s V6, as so usually in that period, went up in a cloud of white smoke.
Round 30 seconds behind, the battle for second and third turned a cube for the lead. And what a cube it was. De Angelis regarded like he had Rosberg coated on the last nook however slid vast – no track-limit pings in these days – and misplaced momentum.
Rosberg was alongside as they took the chequered flag, however not far sufficient – the hole was recorded as 0.050s.
1976: Watson delivers the American dream
John Watson, Penske PC4-Ford
Picture by: Motorsport Photos
Roger Penske’s eponymous workforce had been profitable in each avenue of motorsport till it took on F1. The Geoff Ferris-designed PC1 appeared fast sufficient to entice the good driver-engineer Mark Donohue out of retirement to race within the last rounds of 1974, however within the workforce’s first full season it proved bothersome.
By mid-season, Donohue had labored via no finish of changes and concluded the PC1 was going nowhere, so the workforce acquired a March 751. It was on this automotive that he went off the monitor on the Hella-Licht nook of the Osterreichring – now used as a parking space for the race vehicles – and went over the barrier. Initially thought to have merely suffered a concussion, Donohue misplaced consciousness in hospital and died two days later.
An unsightly authorized battle ensued with Goodyear for the reason that skid marks on monitor prompt a tyre failure.
The workforce rebuilt round John Watson as sole driver for 1976, and the PC3 and PC4 chassis have been higher – the latter extra so after main aerodynamic revisions and an extension to the wheelbase.
Within the temporary absence of Ferrari on the 1976 Austrian Grand Prix – Niki Lauda was combating for his life in hospital and Enzo Ferrari was in a strop at James Hunt’s reinstatement as victor of the Spanish Grand Prix – a window of alternative opened. Watson certified second to Hunt and scored a poignant victory a 12 months after Donohue’s loss of life.
It was Penske’s first grand prix win, and solely the second world championship victory for an American workforce after Anglo-American Racers in 1967. As with Dan Gurney’s outfit, although, Penske’s F1 workforce was truly primarily based within the UK.
1975: Preserve your fingers on the wheel
Vittorio Brambilla (March 751 Ford) celebrates his 1st place and maiden Grand Prix win
Picture by: Motorsport Photos
Nicknamed ‘the Monza Gorilla’ on account of his uncompromisingly bodily driving model, Vittorio Brambilla registered only one grand prix victory however did so in memorable model.
Thunder was rumbling within the distance because the grid assembled with Brambilla eighth in his March-Ford behind the likes of Lauda, Hunt and Fittipaldi. Heavy rain duly swept in from the west however, this being the Nineteen Seventies, the beginning was merely delayed briefly so the opponents may change tyres.
Brambilla surged via to take third place within the early phases behind the duelling Ferrari and Hesketh of Lauda and Hunt. When Lauda dropped again it was simply Hunt and Brambilla… till they got here as much as lap the journeyman Brett Lunger, who was renting the second Hesketh and driving it as if he anticipated to be made to pay for any harm.
As Hunt dithered, Brambilla seized the second and handed them each. Simply 19 laps had elapsed, and the race would final one other 10 earlier than the officers, underneath strain from groups, determined to finish the race early.
As Brambilla crossed the road he punched the air to rejoice his victory – and spun into the limitations of what’s now the pit exit.
1970: A lot of bother, normally critical
Jochen Rindt, Lotus 72C Ford
Picture by: Motorsport Photos
Austrian hero Jochen Rindt had been tempted to go to Brabham for 1970, having been pissed off by the way in which wherein velocity went hand-in-hand with fragility at Lotus. However he was persuaded in any other case and appeared to be weathering the implications as the brand new 72 proved wayward.
In the meantime Jack Brabham, pressured to desert his retirement plans by Rindt’s change of coronary heart, had a veritable Indian summer time within the aggressive BT33. However in a topsy-turvy season of many winners, by spherical 9 of 13 the wayward 72 had been purged of its vices and Rindt led the championship by 45 factors to Brabham’s 25.
The auguries have been good for a house win at this primary Austrian Grand Prix on the brand new Osterreichring: Rindt certified on pole by almost half a second forward of Clay Regazzoni’s Ferrari, with Brabham greater than a second and a half off in eighth.
However delight turned to despair when Rindt’s engine expired only a third of the way in which into the race. It was to be his final grand prix begin.
1964: Rindt’s debut, Lorenzo Bandini’s solely win
Lorenzo Bandini, Ferrari 156
Picture by: Motorsport Photos
The airstrip at Zeltweg had a army previous in widespread with Silverstone, however using the runway itself, quite than perimeter roads, made for a bumpy journey and a jejune L-shaped format. As such, spectators that arrived for the venue’s world championship debut in 1964 discovered themselves frustratingly far faraway from the motion.
Suspension failures introduced on by the bumpy floor have been a significant function throughout observe, however the native crowd was energised by the looks of an up-and-coming expertise. The 22-year-old Jochen Rindt made his maiden world championship look in a Brabham that was entered by long-time Stirling Moss ally Rob Walker.
The bumps took their toll within the race as John Surtees’ Ferrari, Trevor Taylor’s BRM, Dan Gurney’s Brabham and the works Lotuses of Jim Clark and Mike Spence succumbed to suspension and driveshaft failures. Rindt was one other retiree, with damaged steering.
From seventh on the grid, driving Mauro Forghieri’s ‘Aero’ model of the moribund 156, Lorenzo Bandini took what could be his first and solely grand prix victory for Ferrari.
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