Formula 1
Formula 1 has a sprint weekend six times a season. This weekend in Spielberg, too, fans can look forward to more racing action in Styria, as they have in the past two years. However, the spectacle brings additional stress for the teams.
27.06.2024 23.51
Online since yesterday, 11:51 p.m.
Before the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday (3 p.m.), the 24-lap sprint will take place on the Red Bull Ring on Saturday (12 p.m., live on ServusTV). On Friday (12.30 p.m.), the racing teams must set up their cars as ideally as possible for the track in a one-hour training session.
Four hours later, the qualification for the short race is already on the agenda. In the first two qualifying sections, the drivers are only allowed to use one set of medium tires; the fastest soft tires are only used in the last part.
GEPA/Wolfgang Jannach Max Verstappen won the sprint races in Styria in 2022 and 2023
Different schedule than last year
There are eight points for the victory in the sprint race, and the eighth-place finisher receives one point. Shortly after the sprint on Saturday (12:00 p.m.), there is qualifying (4:00 p.m.) for the main race on Sunday. Last year there was a different schedule – qualifying for the main race took place on Friday, and Saturday was for the sprint.
The change was made because the set-up of the cars could no longer be changed from Friday afternoon until the race on Sunday and mistakes were therefore punished even more severely.
“Hectic and stressful weekend”
For drivers and teams, the changed schedule of a sprint weekend compared to regular races is an additional challenge. World champion Max Verstappen prepared for a “hectic and stressful weekend” in the Murtal. “It’s really important that we get the car set-up right straight away,” the Dutchman stressed before the third sprint weekend of the year. The Red Bull driver is a sprint expert; since its introduction in 2021, the triple champion has won nine of the 14 sprint races held.
He could face competition from Lando Norris in Spielberg. “The car is in good condition,” said the McLaren driver, who was recently in the fastest car. However, the Briton is not setting his sights too high; the Miami winner prefers to take a modest approach. “We want to improve every weekend and let the results speak for themselves. Let’s see what we can achieve.” The rising star certainly has good memories of Spielberg; he has already finished third on the podium twice.
The supporting programme will also see an Austrian in Spielberg for the first time in several years: Charlie Wurz. The 18-year-old, who has chosen to live in Monaco, is hoping for a breakthrough in Formula 3 after the rookie only managed to finish in the points once in the first half of the season, with a fifth place in Australia. On Saturday (9.30 a.m.) there will be a sprint race in the junior class with 30 drivers, and the main race on Sunday (8.30 a.m.).
2024-06-27 21:51:52
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