The Paradox of the Austrian Grand Prix

Throughout the weekend at Paul Ricard, one of the major issues highlighted was the access to the Var circuit. Indeed, located in the Provençal hinterland, the circuit does not have a dedicated highway exit, which forced many spectators to make do with radio commentary in their cars during the first free practice session. When the French Grand Prix was held at Magny-Cours, many negative comments were made about this circuit located “in the middle of nowhere.”

However, when F1 heads to Austria, no such comments can be read. Yet, the circuit, now named the Red Bull Ring, is far from being in the heart of a dynamic region. Located two hours’ drive from Vienna, it offers a magnificent view of a green and hilly countryside that is very sparsely populated. Consequently, hotel facilities are far from numerous, and a large number of paddock members, including journalists, are often accommodated either in private homes or at distances of up to nearly 50 or even 60 kilometers.

But in the complete redesign of the circuit following its purchase, Red Bull decided to set everything up to create a pleasant atmosphere for everyone. To begin with, road access is optimized, with plenty of parking spaces nearby. Thus, the press room is glass-enclosed on both sides and offers a magnificent view of the entire pit straight and even the interior of the circuit, thanks to the pronounced relief of the track design.

Inside the paddock, special touches have also been arranged, such as a traditional Austrian music group and culinary animations. Simulators have also been installed so that the most discerning commentators can compare their times to those achieved on the track by the drivers. Even the enormous Energy Station, which traditionally hosts Red Bull and Toro Rosso, adopts a special livery as the usual metal gives way to a wooden structure.

This Friday, during a press conference, Christian Horner explained how this change was related to the logistical constraints imposed by the three consecutive races: « It’s clearly very expensive to move the cars, spare parts, and people in such a short time. We have a new hospitality structure. It simply wouldn’t have been possible to complete the usual Energy Station. So there is a cost associated. »

All these elements contribute to making the Austrian Grand Prix a great success for the main players, even if the spectators are far fewer than at other events. The main community represented is the Dutch, traveling to cheer for their favorite, Max Verstappen. They have not been forgotten by the organizers, who have also set up a range of activities to entertain them throughout the weekend.

With the participation of www.racingbusiness.fr