The 2015 Austrian GP preview
Everything you need to know about this weekend's race!
Friday 19 June 2015 08:51, UK
After a brief trip across the Atlantic, F1 returns to Europe and the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg for the Austrian Grand Prix.
The race returned to the F1 calendar last year for the first time since 2003 and in addition to the grand prix, the circuit will also host a two-day test on the following Tuesday and Wednesday.
So read on below as Sky Sports provides your one-stop shop for everything you need to know about the weekend.
The 2015 Austrian GP in a nutshell
Track: Red Bull Ring. Permanent circuit.
Race start time: 1pm UK time Sunday (2pm local).
Laps: 71.
Track length: 4.326 km.
Tyre allocation: Soft (yellow) and Supersoft (red).
DRS Zones: Two with separate detection spots (Between turns two and three and Pit Straight).
Driver steward: TBA.
Lap record: Michael Schumacher - 1:08.337 (Ferrari, 2003).
2014 pole: Felipe Massa - 1:08.759 (Williams).
Sky Sports F1’s schedule
Thursday June 18
2pm – Drivers’ Press Conference – Live!
Fernando Alonso (McLaren), Nico Hulkenberg (Force India), Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull), Nico Rosberg (Mercedes), Carlos Sainz (Toro Rosso), Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
8:45pm – Paddock Uncut
9pm – Classic F1 – Mexico 1991
Friday June 19
8:45am - Austrian GP Practice One - Live!
11am – GP2 Practice – Live!
12:45pm - Austrian GP Practice Two - Live!
2:50pm – GP2 Qualifying – Live!
4pm - Team Principals’ Press Conference
Mattia Binotto (Ferrari), James Key (Toro Rosso), Tom McCullough (Force India), Paul Monaghan (Red Bull), Pat Symonds (Williams), Rob White (Renault)
5pm - The F1 Show - Live!
Saturday June 20
8:45am – GP3 Qualifying – Live!
9:45am - Austrian GP Practice Three - Live!
12pm - Austrian GP Qualifying - Live!
2:35pm – GP2 Feature Race – Live!
4:15pm – GP3 Race One – Live!
8:35pm - Ted’s Qualifying Notebook.
Sunday June 21
8:20am – GP3 Race Two – Live!
9:30am – GP2 Sprint Race – Live!
11:30am - The 2015 Austrian GP - Track Parade - Live!
12pm - The 2015 Austrian GP – Pit lane - Live!
12:30pm - The 2015 Austrian GP - Race - Live!
3:30pm - The 2015 Austrian GP - Paddock Live!
7:30pm - Austrian GP highlights.
10pm - Ted’s Race Notebook.
Form guide
After being out-qualified by both Williams cars the last time, there hasn’t been a Mercedes on pole. The Silver Arrows struck back in the race, however, with Nico Rosberg leading home Lewis Hamilton.
2014 result: 1. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes); 2. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes); 3. Valtteri Bottas (Williams); 4. Felipe Massa (Williams); 5. Fernando Alonso (Ferrari); 6. Sergio Perez (Force India); 7. Kevin Magnussen (McLaren); 8. Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull); 9. Nico Hulkenberg (Force India) 10. Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari).
Last five winners: 2014: Nico Rosberg (Mercedes); 2003: Michael Schumacher (Ferrari); 2002: Michael Schumacher (Ferrari); 2001: David Coulthard (McLaren); 2000: Mika Hakkinen (McLaren).
Tyre allocation
Pirelli will bring the two softest tyres in their range to Austria – the red-marked supersoft and the yellow-banded soft.
The Italian firm say the circuit "features several sharp corners, meaning that the average speed is relatively low. Coupled with unpredictable weather conditions, the soft and supersoft is well suited to the track characteristics".
Sky Bet odds
After victory in Canada Lewis Hamilton remains favourite for the race victory with Sky Bet. Check out the latest full range of race and title odds here.
