Trip Planner
Short lap. Big drama in the Styrian Alps
Sunday December 6 2026
What to expect in this guide
• Why the Austrian Grand Prix should be on your F1 bucket list
• Where is the circuit?
• Travelling to Austria: what you need to know
• How many days should you spend at the Austrian Grand Prix?
• Austrian Grand Prix weekend schedule at a glance
• Best places to stay for the Austrian Grand Prix
• Best grandstands for key moments at the Austrian Grand Prix
• Where to go next after your trip to the Austrian Grand Prix
• Money-saving tips for the Austrian Grand Prix
• Frequently asked questions
Estimated Reading Time: 7-9 minutes
Why the Austrian Grand Prix should be on your F1 bucket list
The Austrian Grand Prix takes place at the Red Bull Ring, in Spielberg, in the Styria region. The circuit lies in the Styrian Alps, in countryside surrounded by mountains.
It’s one of the shortest tracks on the Formula 1 calendar, with only 10 corners, fewer than any other circuit. The lap is short, but it’s not easy. The layout includes notable elevation changes, blind crests, and several heavy braking zones. Drivers respect it. Nico Hülkenberg calls it “a short track that packs in a lot of fun.” Pierre Gasly describes it as “a deceptively tough lap.”
Spielberg is a quiet countryside village for most of the year. Race week transforms it. The grandstands fill with the Orange Army, Max Verstappen’s home support, and the venue takes on a festival feel. Skydivers, stunt planes, and live music are part of the weekend. The race is Red Bull’s home event, and the energy reflects that.
The Austrian Grand Prix has produced a string of memorable races since returning to the calendar in 2014. Mercedes dominated the early years of the hybrid era. Red Bull have since won here regularly, but it hasn’t always gone their way at home.
In 2022, Charles Leclerc broke their home winning streak with a clinical drive for Ferrari, passing Max Verstappen multiple times to take the win. Lando Norris also has personal history at Spielberg. The Red Bull Ring is where he scored his first ever Formula 1 podium, on the final lap of the 2020 season opener.
When the race begins, the noise rolls across the valley. The whole venue comes alive. It’s not just the racing. There’s a bit of theatre to the weekend that reflects Red Bull’s homegrown style.
Where is the circuit?
The Red Bull Ring is in Spielberg, in the Styria region of Austria, in countryside surrounded by the Styrian Alps. The track is one of the shortest on the calendar, with only 10 corners, and includes notable elevation changes, blind crests, and several heavy braking zones.
Read the full Introducing the Austrian Grand Prix guide »
Travelling to Austria: what you need to know
Vienna is the main gateway to Austria. Most international fans fly into Vienna International Airport (VIE). Graz Airport (GRZ) and Salzburg Airport (SZG) are also options, with a smaller number of direct flights from within Europe.
From Vienna, the Red Bull Ring is just over two hours by road. From Graz, it’s about an hour. From Salzburg, around two hours and 45 minutes.
Direct flights to Vienna are common from most European hubs and from a number of cities in North America, the Middle East, and Asia. Many fans heading to Graz fly into Vienna and take the train down from there.
For visa-exempt nationals, ETIAS travel authorisation is an entry requirement. Check the official guidance before booking.
Read the full Getting to the Austrian Grand Prix guide »
How many days should you spend at the Austrian Grand Prix?
Plan for three full days, Friday to Sunday, to see every Formula 1 session and the support races.
Austrian Grand Prix weekend schedule at a glance
A typical Formula 1 weekend runs Friday to Sunday. Friday is practice. Saturday is final practice and qualifying. Sunday is the Grand Prix.
Each year, a handful of Grand Prix follow a sprint format. On a sprint weekend, Friday includes practice and sprint qualifying. Saturday includes the sprint race and Grand Prix qualifying. Sunday is still the Grand Prix. Sprint weekends rotate around the calendar each season, so check the current year’s schedule on F1.com.
Best places to stay for the Austrian Grand Prix
The Red Bull Ring is in the countryside, with limited accommodation in Spielberg itself. Most fans base themselves further away in Vienna or Graz, in a chalet or holiday home in Styria, or at one of the campsites at the circuit.
Hotels in Vienna:
- Hotel Kaiserhof Wien
- Radisson Blu Style Hotel
Hotels in Graz:
- Radisson Hotel Graz
- Austria Trend Hotel Europa Graz
Chalets and holiday homes in Styria:
- Woody Park Chalet
- Club Hotel am Kreischberg
Several campsites operate at the Red Bull Ring, and some offer pre-pitched tents. Atmospheres vary, so check before you book if you want somewhere quieter.
Read the full Where to Stay for the Austrian Grand Prix guide »
Best grandstands for key moments at the Austrian Grand Prix
The Red Bull Ring is one of the shortest circuits on the Formula 1 calendar, and most of the lap is visible from a number of grandstands. The track sits in a natural amphitheatre, and the elevation around the circuit opens up wider views than at most venues.
Most of the on-track overtaking happens between Turns 1, 3, and 4.
The Main Grandstand runs along the start-finish straight and is the only covered grandstand at the circuit. The Steiermark Grandstand, also known as the Lauda Grandstand, sits at Turn 1. The Red Bull Grandstands run between Turn 1 and Turn 3. The Turn 3 and Turn 4 grandstands cover the heaviest braking zones on the lap.
General Admission is also worth considering. The natural elevation around the venue means many General Admission areas have decent views of the track.
Read the full Choosing a Grandstand at the Austrian Grand Prix guide »
Where to go next after your trip to the Austrian Grand Prix
Styria
The region around the Red Bull Ring is a quiet place to slow down after race weekend. Forest trails, mountain views, and small towns. Worth considering if you want to wind down before flying home.
Vienna and Graz
If you flew into Vienna, stay on a few days. The city has imperial-era architecture, museums, and a strong coffee house culture. Graz, an hour from the circuit, has a well-preserved old town and a more relaxed pace.
Salzburg and Hangar-7
Salzburg is around two and a half hours from the Red Bull Ring. The old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the city is known for its connection to Mozart and to The Sound of Music. For Formula 1 fans, Hangar-7 is the main draw. The museum holds a collection of Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso Formula 1 cars, alongside historic aircraft from The Flying Bulls’ fleet. Entry is free.
Slovenia and northern Italy
The Red Bull Ring is close to the southern Austrian border. Slovenia’s capital, Ljubljana, is around three hours from Spielberg by road, and Lake Bled is a short drive on from there. Venice is around five hours by road if you’d rather extend the trip into northern Italy.
FAQ's
In Spielberg, in the Styria region of Austria, in countryside surrounded by the Styrian Alps.
By car, by shuttle bus from Vienna, Graz, or Salzburg, or by a combination of train and shuttle via Knittelfeld station.
Three full days, Friday to Sunday, covers every Formula 1 session and the support races.
In Vienna, Graz, or in a chalet in the Styrian countryside. Camping at the circuit is also popular.
There's no bad grandstand at the Red Bull Ring. The track is short and elevation around the venue means most of the lap is visible from a number of grandstands.
Money-saving tips for the Austrian Grand Prix
Fly into Vienna and take the train to Graz
Vienna has more frequent and more often direct flights than Graz, which often means lower fares. The train down to Graz takes around two and a half hours and is straightforward.
Look at chalets and holiday homes in Styria
Most Austrian chalets are aimed at the winter ski season. The Grand Prix runs in summer, when rates are often lower and availability is better. For a group, a chalet often works out cheaper per person than hotel rooms.
Consider General Admission
The Red Bull Ring has good General Admission viewing thanks to the elevation around the circuit. If you’re on a tight budget, it’s worth considering.
Introducing the Austrian Grand Prix
In this guide you'll learn about the Red Bull Ring, the circuit's location in the Styria region, and how a race weekend works.
Where to stay for the Austrian Grand Prix
In this guide we'll help you choose the best place to stay during your trip to the Austrian Grand Prix.
Getting to the Austrian Grand Prix
In this guide you'll learn about how to get to Austria for the Austrian Grand Prix.
Getting Around at the Austrian Grand Prix
In this guide you'll learn about the different options for getting around during the Austrian Grand Prix.
Choosing a grandstand at the Austrian Grand Prix
In this guide we'll help you choose the right grandstand for your Austrian Grand Prix experience.
