Heading to the Austrian Grand Prix next weekend, Red Bull Racing drivers Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen are looking to improve their team’s form in its home race after a poor set of results in recent years.
Red Bull Racing aiming to improve form at home race in Austria
The race in Austria returned in 2014 after an 11 year absence from the F1 calendar, and since its return, Red Bull have only managed one podium finish in three races, with Max Verstappen finishing second in 2016 following a late collision between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.
Speaking to NBC Sport, Verstappen said: “I had a really good result in Austria last year coming second. Before the race it was a bit unknown how the tires would play out so I just tried to feel my way in and keep life in them. This allowed me to complete a one-stop strategy, which was always going to be a gamble, but in the end worked out really well,” he added. “This year we have to make sure the car is working well in the corners in order to be up with the front-runners and then just try and be as competitive as possible on the straights, it’s always a bit of a compromise. The fans at the Red Bull Ring are always extremely passionate and of course there was a big Dutch turn out last year which is always special for me to see, plenty of caravans and orange around the area.”
Daniel Ricciardo continued: “At any kind of power circuit like Austria you want to be smooth and get good exits in order to give yourself the best chance on the long straights. The compromise is always the aero package. In the middle to the end of the lap you want more downforce because the corners are quite fast but more downforce means you are slower on the straights, so the key is to find a good balance throughout the lap.”
Red Bull head into the Austrian Grand Prix having won last time out in Azerbaijan, marking the team’s first win of 2017 following multiple third place finishes prior to the race. Although the track in Spielberg should not benefit the RB13 due to its lack of power, the Austrian outfit will still be aiming for a good showing in front of its fans at its home race.
Main Photo
