The Austrian Grand Prix makes its return to the Formula One calendar this weekend and the Infiniti Red Bull Racing team calls this country home. The Red Bull Ring sees the newest winner in F1’s long and illustrious history Daniel Ricciardo make the first start since his stunning win in Canada, while team-mate and four-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel will want to add to his third in Montreal last time out.
Canadian Grand Prix race winner Ricciardo will want to build on the momentum of the last race in Red Bull Racing’s home Grand Prix. He has never driven a lap in anger around the track, but is looking forward to the race weekend in Austria.
“It’s great to be going to Red Bull’s home race after an awesome weekend in Canada,” said Ricciardo. “I’ve only driven the Red Bull Ring on filming days, essentially a handful of laps without the out-and-out aggression that you’ll see at the Austrian Grand Prix weekend.
“It’s a tidy circuit, not the longest and not many corners, but what is there is good. Turn One is cool as it climbs up the hill. It looks tight, but actually isn’t. Turn Two is quite a tight right-hand corner, going uphill and off-camber as well. Then it drops back down all the way through the rest of the track.
“It’s very odd going to what, essentially, is a new race but in a place where the racing history is firmly established. It sounds as though there will be a massive crowd up in the mountains and I’m sure the return of the Austrian Grand Prix will get off to a really good start.”
Team-mate Vettel joined Ricciardo on the Montreal podium last time out and is looking forward to his first Austrian Grand Prix. He recently took part in a drive-swap with Austrian legend Gerhard Berger on the track where he first drove a car around aged just thirteen.
“I have great memories of the Red Bull Ring,” admitted Vettel. “I was 13 years old when I first drove around it. I had the chance to test a Formula car from the Auinger family. That is a huge step if you’re coming from a karting background. It was something completely new and it took me a while to get used to it.
“I’m really happy that we will race there. The circuit is actually very pretty, not only the track, but the whole area. The circuit’s set amid a beautiful natural landscape. There are not many distractions there – it’s just about racing. The Red Bull Ring is a short track, with only a few turns, but it’s very challenging. There are also a lot of elevation changes, which makes it interesting and fun.
“The fans will have a great time as every grandstand offers a great view of the circuit.”
