There’s no rest for the teams and drivers this week, as we head right into Round eight of the 2021 season, for the Styrian Grand Prix with proceedings kicking off on June 25.
The Red Bull Ring was the site of a doubleheader in 2020 as organisers scrambled to fill the vacant calendar amid Covid-19, and this year is no different as teams prepare for two races back-to-back in Austria.
Following Round seven in France, Red Bull remains in the lead of the Constructor’s Standings with 215 points, while their Dutch driver Max Verstappen holds onto his position atop the Driver’s Standings for another week with 131.
Mercedes carry on in the shadows of the charging bulls this week, and are now 37 points off the top spot in the Constructor’s Standings after issues with their tyres in France, as well as two late overtakes by both Red Bull drivers in the final laps last Sunday.
Lewis Hamilton is now 12 points behind Verstappen heading into Round eight in the Driver’s Standings.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the Styrian Grand Prix, with proceedings kicking off on June 25:
The Circuit
The Red Bull Ring first hosted an F1 race back in 1970 and features 10 corners and three DRS zone.
This circuit was founded as Österreichring and hosted the Austrian Grand Prix for 18 consecutive seasons, from 1970 to 1987.
It was later shortened, rebuilt, and renamed the A1-Ring, and it hosted the Austrian Grand Prix again from 1997 to 2003.
It has been known as the Red Bull Ring since being renamed in 2014 when it returned to the calendar after being updated to suit modern F1 cars.
Sunday’s race will mark its return to the F1 calendar for another doubleheader after 2020 and will take place over 71 laps of the 4.318km track.
It will run across 306.452 km from lights out to chequered flag, with top speeds of 327km/hr expected.
In the track’s history, the McLaren team has been the most successful outfit here with 6 wins under their belt – while Niki Lauda is currently the only Austrian to have ever won there, in 1984.
The Styrian Grand Prix has only been held once before, in 2020, where Lewis Hamilton took the win after qualifying on pole.
The weather
Forecasts for the weekend at the Red Bull Ring are set to remain relatively clear from Friday through to Sunday.
Friday’s probability of rain is at 25% with temperatures of 24C.
Saturday will likely remain dry as well with plenty of cloud cover and temperatures hitting 25C and a 25% chance of rain.
Current predictions show a scorcher on race day with highs of 28C but the chance of rain remains at 25%.
When/ Where to Watch
Free practice 1 will take place on Friday in Austria, June 25 at 10:30 am Irish time, with FP2 kicking off just hours later at 2:00 pm.
FP3 begins on Saturday, June 26, at 11:00 am GMT and will be followed by Qualifying at 2:00 pm.
For the big day on Sunday, coverage will be on Sky and NOW with lights out at 2:00 pm.
You can catch live coverage of the entire 2021 season, every weekend on Sky Sports F1, or grab a NOW sports package.
Current Standings
