F1 returns to Europe for round 11 of the season, the start of two double-headers before the summer break.

·         Toto talks Austria

·         Fact File: Austrian Grand Prix

·         Junior Driver Noah Strømsted talks Austria

·         Stat Sheet: Austrian Grand Prix

 

Toto Talks Austria

Victory and a double podium in Montreal were a reward for the hard work of everyone at Brackley and Brixworth. Though we have made solid progress with our car in recent weeks, we know that we cannot expect this level of performance each and every weekend. The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, with its absence of high-speed corners and a more closed tarmac that puts less stress on the tyres, suited the W16. The team executed well and took advantage of that, but we know that our rivals will likely be much more competitive in Austria this weekend.

Building on the momentum from Canada is therefore our focus. The track in Spielberg will be a good test of our recent updates and provide another reference point for our progress. There is still a long way to go this season. We will look to maximise our points scoring and hopefully be able to challenge for the podium once again.

 

Fact File: Austrian Grand Prix

 

·         With a lap record of just 1:02.939, set by Valtteri Bottas in 2020, the circuit in Spielberg is the shortest in terms of time on the 2025 calendar.

·         Despite that, it ranks fifth in terms of shortest distance, clocking in at 4.318 km. Only Monaco, Zandvoort, Mexico City, and Interlagos are shorter.

·         With just 10 corners, Spielberg has the fewest of any track of the current F1 circuits. At the same time, Turns 2, 5 and 8 are taken at full throttle and are therefore not considered to be corners in an engineering sense.

·         Austria is one of four tracks on the calendar in 2025 (Miami, Canada, and Las Vegas) to have three corners that are taken at full throttle.

·         There are large demands placed on a car’s handling in Austria, whilst at the same time the circuit demands good mechanical grip at low speed (Turns 1, 3, and 4) and strong performance at high speed (Turns 6-7 and 9-10). Engineers have to find the best compromise with set-up in order to achieve the best lap time.

·         The difference in elevation of 69 metres between the lowest and highest points at the circuit is one of the largest of the season. That is unsurprising given the track’s location in the Styrian mountains.

·         It also has a steep gradient from track edge-to-edge in places, as exemplified by Turns 3 and 4. The circuit here slopes up towards the apex as the car drives over the crest while accelerating out of the corner. This can result in one wheel leaving the ground, causing challenges with braking, stability, and traction.

·         The track has three very hard braking zones in succession on the approaches to Turns 1, 3, and 4. As the brakes are unable to cool down sufficiently over the rest of the track, as the lap is relatively short, it has an impact on the maximum pressures and general wear and tear experienced.

·         For that reason, teams must apply significant cooling levels to the brakes. That poses a challenge in warming up the front tyres. With a short out-lap, it is a challenge to get them in the right operating window for a qualifying lap.

·         Spielberg is notorious for its aggressive kerbs and is considered to be one of the toughest tests for vehicle suspension. This especially applies to the kerbs at the exit of T1, T6, and T7, which take a high toll on the cars due to their amplitude (i.e. the gap between the highest and lowest points of the kerbs) and the frequency (speed effect) at which they are taken.

·         With a maximum previously-recorded track temperature of 55.1 degrees, the surface in Spielberg can be the hottest of the season

·         The 2025 Austrian Grand Prix sees the return of the original format after three years of hosting the Sprint race format.

·         Niki Lauda is the only Austrian driver to have won the Austrian Grand Prix, in 1984.

·         The Red Bull Ring became the first circuit to host consecutive Grands Prix when it hosted the Austrian and Styrian GPs at the start of 2020.

·         Mercedes has seven wins at the Red Bull Ring, more than any other F1 constructor.

·         George’s triumph in 2024 means he has won at the Red Bull Ring at Formula 2, Formula 3, and Formula 1 levels.

·         Kimi drove an F1 car for the very first time at the circuit in 2024, when he tested the Mercedes F1 W12 from the 2021 season.

·         George’s 2024 victory also meant that every Mercedes F1 driver at that time in the Hybrid era (2014) had won the Austrian Grand Prix. That list also includes Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg, and Valtteri Bottas.

 

Noah Strømsted Talks Austria

 

I am really excited to be back racing this weekend in Austria. I know this track really well and I’ve always performed there.

 

The first half of the season has gone well, and I am pleased to be P4 in the standings. Hopefully we’ll be able to build on this and bring points home this weekend. 

 

Stat Sheet: Austrian Grand Prix

 

2025 Austrian Grand Prix
Session	Local Time (CEST)	Brackley (BST)	Stuttgart (CEST)
Practice One – Friday	13:30 – 14:30	12:30 – 13:30	13:30 – 14:30
Practice Two – Friday	17:00 – 18:00	16:00 – 17:00	17:00 – 18:00
Practice Three – Saturday	12:30 – 13:30	11:30 – 12:30	12:30 – 13:30
Qualifying – Saturday	16:00 – 17:00	15:00 – 16:00	16:00 – 17:00
Grand Prix – Sunday	15:00	14:00	15:00

 

Race Records – Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team in Austria
	Starts	Wins	Podiums	Pole Positions	Front row places	Fastest laps	DNF
Mercedes	11	6	11	5	7	3	2
George Russell	6	1	1	0	0	0	1
Kimi Antonelli	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
MB Power	18	9	24	8	18	9	13

 

Technical Stats – Season to Date (Pre-season Testing to Present)
	Laps Completed	Distance Covered (km)	Corners Taken	Gear Changes	PETRONAS Fuel Injections
Mercedes	3,345	16,936	57,491	170,814	133,920,000
George Russell	1,679	8,499	28,902	85,375	67,280,000
Kimi Antonelli	1,640	8,296	28,199	83,515	65,600,000
MB Power	12,758	64,203	220,108	644,939	509,120,000

 

Mercedes-Benz in Formula One
	Starts	Wins	Podium Places	Pole Positions	Front Row Places	Fastest Laps	1-2 Finishes	Front-Row Lockouts
Mercedes (all-time)	327	130	304	142	267	111	60	84
Mercedes (since 2010)	315	121	287	134	247	102	55	80
George Russell	138	4	20	6	16	9	N/A	N/A
Kimi Antonelli	10	0	1	0	0	1	N/A	N/A
MB Power	597	231	638	241	486	230	99	128