As the anticipation builds ahead of the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix, we’re looking back on a previous visit to the Styrian hills that may spark some déjà vu this weekend.
Located in Spielberg, this track was renamed as the ‘Red Bull Ring’ back in 2011 and returned to the Formula One calendar in 2016 after being rebuilt under the Red Bull owners.
Back in 2019, Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc predominantly held the lead in Austria and looked promising to becoming a race winner. Ferrari were the team to beat in Austria after their qualifying laps, coming off the back of a near maiden win for Leclerc in Bahrain. Their hopes had been quashed by engine issues. This was until the third to last lap when Max Verstappen launched an overtake. After banging wheels, Verstappen claimed the position, with Leclerc leaving the track. The Dutchman held onto his sixth career win after the stewards decided to take no further action to investigate the legality of his move.
This was the first non-Mercedes win for the 2019 season. Lewis Hamilton for Mercedes came home in fifth position. This was the first time he finished outside the top two that year, after Sebastian Vettel made a late overtake and make a two-stop strategy work.
This race also marked Antonio Giovinazzi’s first ever Formula One point. He was racing for Alpha Romeo.
Leclerc will be hoping to repeat his 2019 Saturday performance to start on pole. Saying that, with Verstappen’s current success it can be expected to see him at the top of the grid too. In the past three seasons, only Leclerc and Verstappen have claimed race wins in Austria.
Written by Millie.
Featured Image Credit: edition.cnn.com
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