With 303,000 spectators, the Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend in Spielberg broke the Austrian record, making it the biggest sporting event of the year in Austria – more on that in 303,000 spectators in Spielberg. For Aksel Lund Svindal, one of the best downhill skiers the ski circuit had ever seen, it was not the first time at the Red Bull Ring, but after two years of the pandemic, he was happy to be back in Spielberg.
Svindal: “I would try it”
After the end of his skiing career, he now competes in car races and just won the “Porsche Sprint Challenge Scandinavia” in Anderstorp in May. He can’t really learn much from Formula 1: “It’s a completely different league, but I’m also there to talk to the people from the Porsche Super Cup.”
But the appeal of driving a Formula 1 car is there: “I would try it, but it’s not that easy. Just getting into the seat at almost 1.90 is difficult.”
Kristofferson: “He drives so clean”
His former colleague in skiing, Hernik Kristoffersen, has been a fan of Formula 1 since childhood: “When I was young, Max (Verstappen, note) wasn’t there yet. At that time, Michael Schumacher was very big. Today it’s Max: He drives so cleanly,” says Kristoffersen.
The new Styrian provincial governor Christopher Drexler (ÖVP) has already been to Spielberg several times – albeit earlier in his capacity as state sports councilor: “It is always wonderful to come to the Red Bull Ring for the Formula 1 weekend. It’s special this year because I’m here as governor. For me, joy dominates this weekend.” The races are an “uncanny image gain” for Styria.
Drexler: “It’s always beautiful”
Drexler was confident that Formula 1 will continue to be a guest in Spielberg even after the current contract: “We have proven over the past two years that we can also run races in the pandemic.” Dietrich Mateschitz and Red Bull are professional partners for the province of Styria and Formula 1. “I think the partnership is sustainable,” he said confidently.
Drexler visited the emergency services together with Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP); Education Minister Martin Polaschek (ÖVP), a Styrian, also did not miss the race and also looked around the paddock.
Anna Gasser: “Much faster than it looks on TV”
For Anna Gasser, on the other hand, it was the first visit to Formula 1 in Spielberg: “I’m by no means an expert when it comes to Formula 1, but I know a little bit about the Netflix series ‘Drive to Survive’,” says Snowboard -Olympic champion. She was a little surprised by the speed of the cars: “It’s much faster and more spectacular than it looks on TV.”
She herself is more of a faster driver and has already experienced what it’s like to drive more than 200 km/h on a race track with an Audi R8 at the Salzburgring. A real car fan is her partner Clemens Millauer, who also came to the Red Bull Ring. Apart from Formula 1, she also watches the European Women’s Soccer Championship – in both cases, of course, she keeps her fingers crossed for Austria.
Star chef Gordon Ramsay also attended the race – he was at the Grand Prix at Silverstone last weekend and describes himself as a “big fan” of Formula 1. What is special about it is the “danger, the speed and pushing the limits”. , he told media.
Formula 1 stars up close
For Formula 1 fans, there was the Styria Green Carpet again on Sunday morning after a two-year pandemic break: the stars of the premier class gave autographs and were available for photos. This time you could experience Carlos Sainz (Ferrari), Sergio Perez (Red Bull Racing), Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren), Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri) and Zhou Guanyu (Alfa Romeo) up close.
Mathias Lauda at the wheel of his father’s car
Mathias Lauda, former Formula 1 drivers Ralf Schumacher, David Coulthard, Riccardo Patrese as well as Martin Brundle and Zac Brown drove cars from five decades at the Red Bull Ring.
Lauda drove the Ferrari 312B3, with which his father Niki Lauda, who died in 2019, had contested the 1974 World Championship. Lauda’s widow Birgit and the two children Max and Mia were also guests at the Mercedes Hospitality at the weekend.
Formula 1: Leclerc wins in Spielberg
In terms of sport, Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc won the race. Second was World Champion Max Verstappen in a Red Bull, third was Lewis Hamilton in a Mercedes – more on that in Formula 1: Leclerc wins in Spielberg and in Leclerc ends dry spell in Spielberg (sport.ORF.at).
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