Formula 1 travels to the scenic Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria, for the 11th round of the 2025 championship season. With the top drivers in the standings battling closely, predicting the race outcome and podium contenders remains a challenge.
George Russell, who claimed victory at this circuit last year and recently won the Canadian Grand Prix, positions Mercedes as a strong contender for a win. McLaren`s impressive performance is also anticipated to continue. Furthermore, Max Verstappen, driving for Red Bull at their home track, boasts an exceptional record here with the most wins and pole positions, making him a key favorite.
Weather Forecast
While Austria experienced high temperatures above 30°C earlier in the week, the forecast for the race weekend is slightly cooler. Sunday`s peak temperature is expected to be around 28°C, with sunny conditions and partial clouds throughout the weekend and minimal chance of rain.
Latest News Updates
Recent news in Formula 1 includes Sergio Pérez commenting on his departure from Red Bull, suggesting the team regrets their decision.
Mercedes junior driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli successfully completed his high school exams shortly after achieving his first podium finish in an F1 event.
McLaren development driver Alex Dunne is set to participate in the first practice session this weekend, taking the place of Lando Norris, while Dino Beganovic will drive for Ferrari in Charles Leclerc`s car during FP1.
Outside of F1, Ferrari announced their entry into the world of sailing with the `Hypersail` project planned for 2026.
Additional coverage includes a review of the new F1 movie and the latest episode of ESPN`s F1 podcast, `Unlapped`.
Circuit History and Statistics
Located in the stunning Styrian mountains, the circuit near Spielberg has a long history in F1. It began as the Osterreichring in 1969, hosting Grands Prix from 1970 to 1987. Following a redesign by Hermann Tilke in the 1990s, it returned as the A1-Ring for races between 1997 and 2003.
Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz purchased the circuit in 2004, and it was relaunched as the Red Bull Ring in 2011, rejoining the F1 calendar in 2014 and hosting a race every year since. The circuit was crucial during the 2020 season disrupted by the pandemic, hosting the initial two races, the Austrian and Styrian Grands Prix.
Austrian Grand Prix Key Stats:
- Circuit: Red Bull Ring; Spielberg, Austria
- First F1 race: 1970
- Race Distance: 71 laps of 4.3km, total 306km
- Lap record: 1:05.619, Carlos Sainz (2020)
- Most wins (Current Grid): Max Verstappen (4 – 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023)
- Other Winners (Current Grid): Lewis Hamilton (1 – 2016), Charles Leclerc (1 – 2022), George Russell (1 – 2024)
- Most Poles (Current Grid): Max Verstappen (4 – 2021-2024)
- Other Pole Sitters (Current Grid): Lewis Hamilton (2 – 2015, 2016), Charles Leclerc (1 – 2019)
- Circuit Character: Renowned for its picturesque Alpine setting and elevation changes. With only eight defined corners, it surprisingly offers numerous overtaking opportunities.
- Driver`s View: Lance Stroll described it: “I love it and everything about it — the scenery, the elevation, the whole thing is just fantastic. It is such a beautiful place and such a beautiful circuit, and definitely one of my favourites.”
Review of the 2024 Race
The 2024 Austrian Grand Prix saw George Russell secure his second career victory under dramatic circumstances. Max Verstappen, who had been leading comfortably, and Lando Norris collided while disputing the lead after a pitstop issue for Verstappen allowed Norris to close the gap. Both drivers were forced to retire from the race.
Oscar Piastri finished in second place, followed by Carlos Sainz in third. Russell`s win marked Mercedes` first victory since his triumph at the Brazilian Grand Prix in 2022.
Race Predictions
Following a somewhat subdued performance in Canada, the Austrian Grand Prix circuit appears well-suited for McLaren to demonstrate their strength once more. This race offers a potential opportunity for championship leader Oscar Piastri to solidify his advantage over teammate Lando Norris, especially after their incident in the previous race. However, Max Verstappen`s exceptional historical performance at the Red Bull Ring makes him a formidable contender on home ground.
Mercedes could also spring a surprise if they can match the form shown in Montreal; if they are competitive here, they could be a factor throughout the rest of the season.
Championship Standings Overview
Lando Norris` retirement in the Canadian Grand Prix resulted in minimal changes to the top of the driver standings. Oscar Piastri maintains his lead, holding a 22-point advantage over Norris. Max Verstappen is 21 points behind Norris, making the top three very close.
George Russell remains in fourth place, 19 points adrift of Verstappen. In the Constructors` Championship, McLaren holds a significant lead of 175 points over Mercedes.
How to Watch the Austrian GP
For Formula 1 fans in the United States, the race weekend sessions are available to watch on ESPN and ESPN+.
In the United Kingdom, live broadcast coverage is provided by Sky Sports F1, with radio commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live.
For ongoing news, detailed analysis, and live updates throughout the weekend, follow ESPN`s F1 team reporting directly from Spielberg.
Session Times (BST)
Note: Local time in Spielberg (Central European Summer Time) is BST +1 hour.
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Friday:
- Free Practice 1: 12:30 – 13:30
- Free Practice 2: 16:00 – 17:00
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Saturday:
- Free Practice 3: 11:30 – 12:30
- Qualifying: 15:00 – 16:00
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Sunday:
- Race Start: 14:00 (Live text commentary begins 13:00)
Dominic Ashworth