Busy summer stretch intensifies in Spielberg

The team arrive at the Red Bull Ring after showing competitive pace in Barcelona, with both Colton Herta and Ritomo Miyata aiming to turn that speed into strong results as the season reaches its midpoint.

The Red Bull Ring is one of the shortest circuits on the Formula 2 calendar, but it consistently produces some of the closest competition of the season. With only ten corners and a lap time of just over 1:15, there is little room for error and small gains can make a significant difference.

The opening half of the lap is dominated by long straights and heavy braking zones, creating some of the best overtaking opportunities of the year. The second sector is a contrasting challenge, featuring a sequence of fast, flowing corners where commitment and confidence are rewarded.

The circuit’s elevation changes add another dimension, particularly through the uphill run towards Turns 3 and 4, while track limits remain a constant talking point throughout the weekend as drivers look to stay within the limits without sacrificing lap time.

With the field typically covered by only a few tenths of a second, Spielberg often rewards drivers who can find a rhythm quickly and maximise every lap.

While the teams have plenty of experience at the venue, the challenge is no less demanding as Formula 2 enters one of the busiest periods of the season. Austria is the first stop in a double-header that continues at Silverstone next weekend before the championship heads into its summer break.

Jan Sumann, Hitech’s F2 Head of Race Engineering:

“Spielberg is always a circuit the drivers enjoy. It’s short, fast and produces some very close racing, so margins tend to be tight throughout the field.

“The first half of the lap gives opportunities to race and overtake, but you still need a car that works well through the quicker corners in the second sector. It’s a circuit that asks quite a lot from both the car and the driver despite the relatively short lap length.