Formula 1 already started last week and will continue this weekend with the Styrian Grand Prix. We are a few days away from seeing the world's fastest cars on the track again. After the FIA ​​and F1 announced the season's starting calendar with 8 races, the Red Bull Ring would be the perfect circuit to start with a double header, the first of which was last weekend (3 to 5 of July) and the second will be this week, from July 10 to 12. It has been an extremely long wait, but we can finally say that it has already started. In this article, we will tell you some historical facts of the circuit that will serve as host of the first double date in F1, the Red Bull Ring.

The Austrian circuit consists of a total of 4.3 kilometers being the 4 circuit with the shortest length, just ahead of Brazil, Mexico and Monaco. During a fast lap at the Red Bull Ring, the drivers have to be with full throttle around 65% of it. This circuit has only 10 turns, being the track with the fewest turns on the entire F1 calendar. Regarding the history of the circuit, the Red Bull Ring was not used to be called like that, but was baptized as Österreichring, being the translation of "circuit of Austria". Its inauguration took place on July 26, 1969, so it is now 50 years old. In 1996, the circuit was remodelled and was renamed with the name "A1-Ring" thanks to the sponsorship they had at that time with the "A1 Mobilkom" telephone brand. In 2010, the energy drink brand called “Red Bull” decided to buy the circuit, renaming it with the name that is known today, that is, Red Bull Ring.

In its initial period, the Österreichring was 5,911 km long and in 1977 it was already 5,942 km long. In 1970, the circuit hosted its first Austrian Grand Prix and remained on the calendar until 1987 as the FIA ​​called it an overly dangerous track. The highest category of motorsport was absent in the Austrian country for a decade until in 1997 it returned thanks to the renovation made in 1995 and 1996. The A1-Ring continued to host the Austrian Grand Prix until 2003. It is worth noting that during the 2002 Austrian Grand Prix something happened that was not very pleasant for the category, it is that Ferrari ordered Rubens Barrichello to give up his position to his teammate, Michael Schumacher, so that the German won the race . This fact caused Formula 1 to prohibit team orders that artificially determine the result of the Grand Prix. After the announcement was made that the layout was not going to be on the 2004 F1 calendar, the A1-Ring went bankrupt and was only used as a host for concerts, exhibitions, etc. In 2009 and thanks to the success of the Austrian team Red Bull Racing, the energy drinks company bought the circuit, remodelled it so that there were new hospitality buildings, boxes and rooms, giving it the name of "Red Bull Ring". In 2014 the circuit once again hosted a Formula 1 Grand Prix and to this day it continues to host it. The biggest winners of the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring are Nico Rosberg, Max Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas, these three drivers with two Grand Prix wins, while Lewis Hamilton has only claimed victory 1 time.

Hopefully this Styrian Grand Prix will be just as or more entertaining than the last Austrian Grand Prix, which surprised us all with an unexpected Lando Norris podium, 9 retirements, and certainly kept many of us on the edge of our seats. It should be noted that the approaching Grand Prix is ​​called the Styrian Grand Prix so that the name does not repeat itself with the last GP, in addition to Styria being the Austrian province where the circuit is located. Now that we know more about the track and its history, we are ready to watch the Styrian Grand Prix!