(image credit: Getty Images)
After an exhilarating weekend in Silverstone, Formula One continues on for the 11th round of the 2022 World Championship as the series heads to the fastest track on the calendar in Spielberg, Austria for the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring. The 2.6 mile, ten-turn circuit offers plenty of elevation changes with long straights followed by hard-braking zones to facilitate passing. Max Verstappen enters this race as the defending winner of the event after a dominating showing in last years' race. For this race, Verstappen and Leclerc come into the weekend where the championship fight will be between them from here on out....unless something drastic happens. Haas F1 looks to gain speed in the mid-field battle, Ferrari looks to get back on track with solid strategy, and with wet weather in the forecast it will be a very exciting and drama filled 71 laps. Below is everything you need to know for the 2022 Austrian Grand Prix.
Event History: This is the 36th Austrian Grand Prix in series history. First taking place on the nearby Zeltweg Airfield in 1964 before coming to the Red Bull Ring full time in 1997 and has been held ever since. The great Alain Prost and Max Verstappen have three wins each in the Austrian Grand Prix which is tied for most all time. Lewis Hamilton, Valtteri Bottas, and Max Verstappen are the only active drivers to win at the Red Bull Ring.
Track Facts: When it comes to power circuits in Formula One, the Red Bull Ring is one of the first tracks that someone will name when making a list of them. With an on-throttle time of 75% through an entire lap, this will be one of the few tracks so far to show off the speed of the new cars in 2022. Six right and four left hand turns make up the ten corner circuit which has three DRS activation zones. The first is down the pit straight, the second is down the long stretch connecting turn one and three, and the third one is the straight that connects turn three to turn four.
Tire Allocation: Pirelli has brought the three softest tires in their inventory.
C3 - Hard
C4 - Medium
C5 - Soft
Weather: Sunday is projected to be our first wet weather race of the year as rain chances will be in the 80's.
Max Verstappen dominated both races in Austria last year en route to a world title at the end of 2022 and with the straight line speed the Red Bull teams have had this year, it will be very hard to think that he would do the same this year. For Ferrari, they will have the pace to make Verstappen work at it but I myself, don't believe that they will get it done. One team that has surprised this weekend so far is the Haas F1 team who had both drivers advance to the third round in qualifying, so expect a strong midfield showing this weekend. With rain in the forecast, the playing field will be more even throughout the field so I will take Verstappen to win with Leclerc and Hamilton rounding out the podium.
Weekend Schedule: (All times in EST)
Saturday, July 9th - Free Practice #2 at 6:25 A.M. on ESPN2
Saturday, July 9th - Sprint Qualifying at 10: 25 A.M. on ESPN2
Sunday, July 10th - Austrian Grand Prix at 8:30 A.M. on ESPN2
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