Austrian Grand Prix

F1 race
Name = Austrian Grand Prix

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Circuit = A1-Ring
Circuit_

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Laps = 69
Circuit_length_km = 4.326
Circuit_length_mi =
Race_length_km = 298.494
Race_length_mi =
Most_wins_driver = flagicon|France Alain Prost (3)
Most_wins_constructor = flagicon|UK McLaren (6)
Current_year = 2003
Winner = flagicon|Germany Michael Schumacher
Winning_team = flagicon|Italy Ferrari
Winning_time = 1:24:04.888
Pole_driver = flagicon|Germany Michael Schumacher
Pole_team = flagicon|Italy Ferrari
Pole_time = 1:09.150
Fastest_lap_driver = flagicon|Germany Michael Schumacher
Fastest_lap_team = flagicon|Italy Ferrari
Fastest_l

The Austrian Grand Prix was a Formula One race.

The first event, in 1964, was held at a race track on the Zeltweg Airfield. The race was a success, but the track was deemed too dangerous; it was narrow and very bumpy, and spectators complained of poor viewing areas. The FIA removed the race from the F1 calendar until a suitable track was built.

From 1970 until 1987, the event was held at the Österreichring (also located near Zeltweg). These events were moderately successful, but in 1987, this track was also deemed too dangerous, by FIA standards, whereupon the event disappeared for a decade.

In 1995 and 1996, the track was refurbished and brought up to date, which allowed the race to run again in 1997. Since the larger portion of the modernized track, which was renamed A1-Ring after a sponsor, is located on the municipal territory of Spielberg, Spielberg was now given as the site of the Grand Prix. It was a mainstay on the calendar until hosting its final race in 2003.

The 2002 Austrian Grand Prix received negative publicity after Ferrari instructed Rubens Barrichello to cede his victory to Michael Schumacher.

The grandstands and pit buildings were demolished in 2004, rendering the track unusable for any motorsport category. In later 2004 and early 2005, there were intense discussions whether the owner, Red Bull, would find another use for the site or actually bring back motor sports to it. However, as of January 2005, this seems more unlikely than ever, as Dietrich Mateschitz publicly announced that he had no intention to waste money on a deficitary circuit. This failure of the project, which was of considerable importance for the surrounding municipalities, may even have serious political repercussions, as Styrian governor Waltraud Klasnic had strongly supported the project.

However, in April 2008 the current owners of the track , Red Bull, have decided to restore the track as a racing venue and DTM Chief are considering to return there for a race in 2009. [ [http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/66688 DTM considering return to Austria] ]

Records

*Driver
**Most wins - Alain Prost, 3
**Most podiums - David Coulthard, 5
**Most points - David Coulthard, 39
**Most poles - René Arnoux, Nelson Piquet & Niki Lauda, 3 (tied)
**Most grands prix - Jacques Laffite, 12
*Team
**Most wins - McLaren, 6
**Most podiums - Ferrari, 20
**Most points - Ferrari, 142.5
**Most poles - Ferrari, 7
**Most grands prix - Ferrari & McLaren, 25 (tied)

Winners of the Austrian Grand Prix

Repeat Winners

Only includes World Championship events

Year by Year

"A pink background indicates an event which was not part of the Formula One World Championship."

References