Patrick Tambay, Ferrari, Osterreichring, 1982

Verstappen urged Red Bull to recreate Osterreiching ‘but I don’t think it’s possible’

Formula 1

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Max Verstappen revealed he has urged Red Bull to rebuild more of the Osterreichring, which was once Formula 1’s fastest circuit.

The Austrian track was shortened to form the venue now known as the Red Bull Ring in 1996.

All of its famous fast corners – including Tiroch, Bosch and Rindt – were bypassed or reprofiled to create the modern layout which F1 first raced on in 1997. The western portion of the circuit remains, and Red Bull built a chicane between it and the current pit straight at one stage, but has no plans to use it at present.

“I’ve asked to try and get it back to how it was back in the day,” said Verstappen. “A bit faster first sector would be quite cool, but I don’t think that is possible at the moment.

“But I’ve seen some really cool onboards from back in the day. I think it’s still, of course, now a very nice track, but I think in general even if you had that first sector just all the way with the fast corners, I think it would be even better because then it’s basically only like one slow-speed corner or whatever on the track. But it’s a cool layout.”

Red Bull Ring circuit variations, 1970-2020
Feature: Changing tracks – Red Bull Ring
F1 raced at the Osterreichring between 1970 and 1987. Its lack of slow corners meant it was regularly the quickest track F1 visited. Nelson Piquet took pole position for the final race there at an average speed of 256.621kph (159.456mph).

The modern layout is 1.5 kilometres shorter than the old track, and Verstappen said it has the advantage of offering good views for spectators.

“What I like the most is that the fans can actually see a lot of the track when you’re sitting on any grandstand. And I think that makes it quite a special atmosphere because it feels like you’re a bit more in an arena kind of feeling. For racing and watching the race, it’s definitely one of the best tracks on the calendar.”

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Pictures: Osterreiching

Video: How the Red Bull Ring has changed

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Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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13 comments on “Verstappen urged Red Bull to recreate Osterreiching ‘but I don’t think it’s possible’”

  1. Looking back, the emergence of the A1-Ring back in the 1990s was probably the start of the trend that has seen several classic F1 venues redeveloped, but with the parts that make them special removed. Hockenheim, Silverstone and Mexico City are other examples. The instinct to cosplay F1 history rather than preserve it.

    But I also think the current Red Bull Ring has earned its place on the calendar. We don’t have any other short, fast tracks, and the elevation change is unusual for a modern F1 circuit.

    1. The old track didn’t have less elevation, did it?

      The current track is one of the most boring on the calendar. It’s basically just 3 right cornes and then you already go into the quasi enlarged Hockenheim stadium section to finish off the lap.
      It’s silly, it’s sad, it’s pathetic.

      It would be awesome to have the sprint on the current short track version and the full, proper race on the… full, proper track.

      1. Modern F1 cars would be even more rubbish than usual on the old layout.
        No significant braking events, no decent opportunities to recharge batteries, no overtaking (as there could be no DRS either) and now without any fuel strategy but with all the other limitations that hamper F1’s racing.
        High speed Monaco, essentially.

        1. Biskit Boy (@sean-p-newmanlive-co-uk)
          30th June 2024, 12:49

          Yes I agree, it wouldn’t be great for modern F1 cars. However I don’t agree there would be no overtaking or DRS.
          As you mention there are no big braking events to charge the batteries, so this would have to be done by managing clipping. This might actually make it an interesting, if far from normal race.

  2. I’m perfectly okay with the present 1997-onwards configuration.

  3. I like what for me has always been the A1 Ring. It’s short, it’s fast, it’s unique in its design. I never watched a race at the original track, tho so I don’t know what we’re missing.

    It’d be nice to see that sector 1 restored. Just to have the possibility, even if we never get to use it.

    1. Even the A1 ring has been neutered over the years I believe. It seems to either produce barn burners or bore fests.

  4. The one thing I like about Max is that he hates this new soft era of F1. I was just thinking about how amazing it’d be to have the Osterreiching still instead of this simple wimpy track with four turns.

    1. I have to agree with you. Although I might not like him otherwise, he seems the most oldschool kind of guy on the grid. Isn’t afraid to say what he means and isn’t into PC and the soft era F1 stuff.

      1. And he might be the one driver on the grid to be able arrest this descent into a diapered F1 and maybe, just maybe reverse it a tiny bit. I doubt the latter, but even just slowing or stopping the trend is an accomplishment.

      2. I would think K-Mag and Alonso would fit into this as well.

  5. BLS (@brightlampshade)
    30th June 2024, 11:37

    I quite like the current circuit and it is somewhat unique (other than that time we used Bahrains short circuit, which I also enjoyed)

    But…. it doesn’t seem to be working based off yesterdays showing. Ricciardo and Russel were the only ones to make a meaningful overtake stick yesterday? It’s just 2024 cars being 2024 cars. I guess they could try some more banking through T1, but then T1 seems a good corner as it is tbh.

  6. José Lopes da Silva
    30th June 2024, 14:59

    I’ve lost hope that F1 fans could one day, in their majority, understand that it’s the cars, and not the tracks.

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