Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands takes a curve during the sprint race ahead of Sunday’s Formula One Austrian Grand Prix auto race, at the Red Bull Ring racetrack, in Spielberg, Austria, Saturday, July 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Tens of thousands of orange-clad Dutch fans come every year, packing the grandstands to watch their nation’s star driver Max Verstappen on his Red Bull team’s home track in Spielberg against the backdrop of the Styrian mountains
Formula One announced Sunday that it has signed a three-year contract extension to keep the Austrian Grand Prix on the calendar until 2030.
The decision comes only months after the circuit signed a four-year deal until 2027, underlining how it is one of the most popular venues in F1.
Tens of thousands of orange-clad Dutch fans come every year, packing the grandstands to watch their nation’s star driver Max Verstappen on his Red Bull team’s home track in Spielberg against the backdrop of the Styrian mountains.
“The race in Austria is a big favourite for the drivers and all our fans,” F1 president Stefano Domenicali said. “We are looking forward to many years of excitement and action that are ahead of us.”
Austria has hosted an F1 championship race on and off since 1964 and the Red Bull Ring has been on the calendar each year since 2014.
The venue also held a second race in each of the 2020 and 2021 seasons under the Styrian Grand Prix name as F1 made up for races cancelled during the coronavirus pandemic.
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Two-time defending champion and current season leader Verstappen raced to the chequered flag ahead of the grid in the sprint race at the Red Bull Ring on Saturday after clinching the pole position for the main race with the fastest lap on Friday.
The Dutchman is the favourite to clinch Red Bull’s home race after winning six of the eight races so far this season, while the other two were won by teammate Sergio Perez.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – Associated Press)