Preview | Will Hamilton and Mercedes be able to bounce back against Red Bull?

Red Bull Ring

The Österreichring was completed in Spielberg in 1969, and in 1970 the first official Formula 1 race was held at this circuit. The Austrian GP remained on the Formula 1 calendar until 1987. After that, the circuit returned under the name of the A1-Ring, and the circuit looked more like the current layout. In 2014, the circuit returned again, but this time as Red Bull's flagship event.

In its current layout, the circuit is the fastest circuit on the Formula 1 calendar, with times approaching the one-minute mark. The track has three long, overtaking straights and a technical second and third sector. Mercedes has won the most on the current layout.

Grand Prix of Styria

The second race in this Triple Header is the Styrian Grand Prix. The province in which Spielberg is located is the name bearer of the second race in Austria, as Austria is not allowed to name a Grand Prix twice. This was also the case in 2020, when the Red Bull Ring was also used to fill the 'coronavirus season'.

In 2021 Styria's GP will replace the Canadian Grand Prix. First it was to be replaced by Turkey, but that could not be arranged due to restrictions around the coronavirus virus in that country. So the French GP was rescheduled and the triptych was made into a Triple Header with two races in Austria.

In 2020 it was Lewis Hamilton who started from pole and took the victory. Max Verstappen finished second in the rained out qualifying session, but had to settle for P3 in the race. In 2021 Verstappen is clearly hoping for more, after already winning the Austrian Grand Prix twice.

Formula 1 in 2021

And that chance is certainly there, because Red Bull Racing will be much better in 2021 than it was at the start of the season in 2020. Mercedes were the dominant team then, but Red Bull Racing have won the last three races in 2021, and Red Bull are also top of the team championship.

Mercedes is still close and in France it was incredibly exciting. Yet Red Bull seems to be coming to its home circuit with an advantage. With a less competitive package the track already suited Adrian Newey's cars well, so it is hard to imagine a competitive RB16B not working well on the Red Bull Ring.

Weather forecast

Like the 2020 edition, rain could also play a defining role during the weekend in Spielberg in 2021. According to Weather.com there is a 92 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms on Friday and 75 percent on Saturday. On Sunday there are now only thunderstorms predicted in the afternoon, but then is the race. On Sunday it is also suddenly three to four degrees warmer than on the other days, but the chance of rain is still 52 percent.

Forecast for the Styrian GP

After Max Verstappen's pole victory in France, the Steiermark Grand Prix will be one of Red Bull Racing's highlights. If Verstappen's team can win on a normal circuit like Paul Ricard, where Mercedes has been so dominant in recent years, then Mercedes will need to take cover in Austria.

We're not expected to see the same in Austria as in Monaco or Azerbaijan, but the expectation is that Red Bull will have a huge advantage here with their mechanical grip. Verstappen is also always very strong at the Red Bull Ring, and he will be more than happy to win in front of the sea of Orange fans. But with rain anything can happen, and you can never rule out Lewis Hamilton.

Timetable Steiermark Grand Prix

Friday

First free practice: 10:30 - 11:30

Second free practice: 14:00 - 15:00

Saturday

Third free practice: 11:00 - 12:00

Qualifying 14:00 - 15:00

Sunday

Race: 14:00 - 16:00