Austrian Grand Prix
| |
| Austrian Grand Prix | |
|---|---|
| Flag | 
|
| Circuit | A1-Ring |
| Laps | 69 |
| Circuit length km | 4.326 |
| Circuit length mi | |
| Race length km | 298.494 |
| Race length mi | |
| Most wins driver |  Alain Prost (3)
|
| Most wins constructor |  McLaren (6)
|
| Current year | 2003 |
| Winner |  Michael Schumacher
|
| Winning team |  Ferrari
|
| Winning time | 1:24:04.888 |
| Pole driver | Michael Schumacher
|
| Pole team | Ferrari
|
| Pole time | 1:09.150 |
| Fastest lap driver | Michael Schumacher
|
| Fastest lap team | Ferrari
|
| Fastest lap | 1:08.337 |
The Austrian Grand Prix was a Formula One race.
The first event, in 1964, was held at a race track on the Zeltweg Airfield. The race was a success, but the track was deemed too dangerous; it was narrow and very bumpy, and spectators complained of poor viewing areas. The FIA removed the race from the F1 calendar until a suitable track was built.
From 1970 until 1987, the event was held at the Österreichring (also located near Zeltweg). These events were moderately successful, but in 1987, this track was also deemed too dangerous, by FIA standards, whereupon the event disappeared for a decade.
In 1995 and 1996, the track was refurbished and brought up to date, which allowed the race to run again in 1997. Since the larger portion of the modernized track, which was renamed A1-Ring after a sponsor, is located on the municipal territory of Spielberg, Spielberg was now given as the site of the Grand Prix. It was a mainstay on the calendar until hosting its final race in 2003.
The 2002 Austrian Grand Prix received negative publicity after Ferrari instructed Rubens Barrichello to cede his victory to Michael Schumacher.
The grandstands and pit buildings were demolished in 2004, rendering the track unusable for any motorsport category. In later 2004 and early 2005, there were intense discussions whether the owner, Red Bull, would find another use for the site or actually bring back motor sports to it. However, as of January 2005, this seems more unlikely than ever, as Dietrich Mateschitz publicly announced that he had no intention to waste money on a deficitary circuit. This failure of the project, which was of considerable importance for the surrounding municipalities, may even have serious political repercussions, as Styrian governor Waltraud Klasnic had strongly supported the project.
However, in April 2008 the current owners of the track , Red Bull, have decided to restore the track as a racing venue and DTM Chief are considering to return there for a race in 2009.
Records
- Driver
- Most wins - Alain Prost, 3
- Most podiums - David Coulthard, 5
- Most points - David Coulthard, 39
- Most poles - René Arnoux, Nelson Piquet & Niki Lauda, 3 (tied)
- Most grands prix - Jacques Laffite, 12
- Team
Winners of the Austrian Grand Prix
Repeat Winners
Only includes World Championship events
| Number of wins | Driver | Achieved |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Alain Prost
|
1986 |
| 2 |  Ronnie Peterson
|
1978 |
 Alan Jones
|
1979 | |
 Mika Häkkinen
|
2000 | |
| Michael Schumacher
|
2003 |
Year by Year
A light gray background indicates an event which was not part of the Formula One World Championship.
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| Races in the Formula One championship: | |
|---|---|
| 2007 championship Grand Prix events: | |
|
Australian |
Malaysian |
Bahrain |
Spanish |
Monaco |
Canadian |
U.S. |
French |
British | |
| Past championship Grand Prix events: | |
|
Argentine |
Austrian |
Dutch |
Indy 500 |
Las Vegas |
Luxembourg |
Mexican |
Morocco | |
| Confirmed future Grand Prix events: | |