Two weeks after the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, won by Lewis Hamilton, Formula 1 is back on track for another European double-header, starting this weekend in Austria before moving on to the UK. Scuderia Ferrari HP arrives in the Styrian mountains off the back of encouraging performances in the past few races, aware that on a circuit that is short yet demanding, the slightest detail can make the difference. For the second time this season, the team will field three drivers: Ferrari Driver Academy member Dino Beganovic, currently racing in Formula 2 with DAMS, will take over Charles Leclerc’s SF-26 during Friday’s opening free practice session, completing one of the rookie outings required by the regulations.
The track. The 4.318 kilometre Spielberg circuit features ten corners. It is one of the shortest on the calendar, combining long straights and heavy braking zones, particularly at Turns 1, 3 and 4, before a more flowing final sector with elevation changes that put the car’s balance to the test. The layout is conducive to overtaking and often produces closely fought races. Given the short lap length, the time gaps are usually very small and even a few hundredths of a second can make a significant difference in qualifying.
Weather and timetable. Situated more than 700 metres above sea level and surrounded by mountains, changeable weather is the order of the day, with sudden changes that can influence the course of the sessions. The weekend will follow the traditional format, with the first free practice session taking place on Friday at 13:30 CEST and the second at 17:00. On Saturday, the final hour of practice will begin at 12:30, while qualifying is scheduled for 16:00. The Austrian Grand Prix will get underway on Sunday at 15:00, with the drivers set to complete 71 laps, for a total distance of 306.452 kilometres.
"We arrive in Austria encouraged by our positive showing over the past few races, even though we are fully aware that there is still a lot of work to do and that we must continue to focus on ourselves. We will approach this weekend with the same method and mindset that we have adopted since the start of the season aiming to put together clean sessions in every respect, from track execution to the strategic decisions taken on the pit wall.
We know that every weekend has a different story to tell which is why we will continue to take the championship one race at a time".
Fred Vasseur, Team Principal
