Red Bull Ring: Grandstand guide for the Austrian Grand Prix

High up in the Styrian Hills, the Austria F1 Grand Prix provides the scene for what might be the most picturesque race on the Formula 1 calendar. But with a track distance of just under 5km, it’s also one of the quickest laps of the year – though that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of action to witness trackside.

In fact, thanks to its elevation and layout, fans at the Austria F1 Grand Prix can witness more of the race from a single grandstand than most other circuits, meaning you’re less likely to miss any action.

While there are comparatively few grandstands compared to other circuits on the calendar, there are plenty of vantage points throughout the circuit which place you in the midst of the action.

If you’re looking to book tickets to the Austria Formula 1 Grand Prix, here’s what you need to know about the seating situation.

Where are the best places to sit at the Austria F1 Grand Prix?

Red Bull Grandstand

Action zones: Turns 1, 2, 3, 6, 7 and 8
Seat type: Grandstand seating
Covered: No
Big screen?: Yes
Numbered seating: Yes

Located just after the tight turn one, the Red Bull Grandstand runs alongside the long straight as the cars climb to the highest point on the circuit. Here, you’ll see the most action as the cars tussle for position after traversing the start. You’re also right by the pit exit, so you’ll be the first to know if a team has pulled off its pit-stop strategy to perfection.

In 2022, fans in this grandstand witnessed drivers lining up overtaking moves into turn three along the steep climb. But a pleasant surprise was the amount of overtaking through turns 6 and 7. The new generation of cars has allowed the drivers to follow each other closer, and pull off moves they haven’t been able to in the past. The Red Bull Grandstand offers an awesome view across the track and action in all three sectors.

It’s handily located right by the F1 Village, and has clear views to two big screens to catch all the on-track moves.

Steiermark Grandstand

Action zones: Pit straight and turn 1, 2 and 3
Seat type: Grandstand seating
Covered: No
Big screen?: Yes
Numbered seating: Yes

Named after the region of Austria the track is in, this grandstand is situated just behind turn one. From here, you’ll have a good view of the grid for the start, and be able to see the carnage unfold at turn one. Who could forget Fernando Alonso and Max Verstappen colliding in 2018 to the palpable disappointment of the latter’s legions of Dutch fans (spoiler: he more than made up for it the following year).

After the start, the cars will be ploughing down the pit straight at around 330kp/h, but you’ll be in a prime position to see who’s latest on the breaks as the cars slow to take the first bend.

Like with the Red Bull Grandstand, there’s also a good chance to see the cars later in the lap. You will see them venture up the hill to turn three, and then again as they make their way back down through the lap at turn six.

This is a great spot to experience the race, with the F1 Fan Village and bars nearby, meaning you’re as close as you can get to a Formula 1 track with a pint in hand, and a big screen directly opposite so you won’t miss a moment.

Start-finish Grandstand

Action zones: Pit lane, grid, pit straight, turns 1 and 10
Seat type: Grandstand seating
Covered: Yes
Big screen?: Yes
Numbered seating: Yes

The biggest grandstand on the circuit, the myWorld Grandstand stretches the length of the pit straight. While you’ll experience the deafening adrenaline rush of 20 Formula 1 engines revving in unison as the lights go out for the start, it’s a perfect spot to watch qualifying, as the cars will reach a blistering 313kph as they cross the line to begin their qualifying lap on Saturday.

It’s also a great vantage point for off-track events. Before the race, you’ll soak up the grid atmosphere, spotting the celebrities and TV crews during the grid walk as the teams and drivers get in the zone, and then post-race, you’ll bask in the glory of your winner, as the podium faces the east-end of this grandstand.

T9 and T10 Grandstand

Action zones: Turns 9 and 10
Seat type: Grandstand seating
Covered: No
Big screen?: Yes
Numbered seating: Yes

The large T9 and T10 grandstands are the newest at the circuit. They overlook the super-fast final turn turns at the Red Bull Ring. For fans in these grandstands, they offer some awesome actions. It’s uniquely placed right by the pit entry, so you will be the first to see pit strategies triggered in the race.

Thanks to the 2022 regulations, it’s also become possible to overtake rivals through these two bends. Mick Schumacher pulled off a move on his teammate during the last Austrian Grand Prix into T9. But it’s not a simple corner. George Russell fell victim to the high-speed final turn during qualifying, right in the sight of fans in this grandstand.

Schönberg Grandstand

Action zones: Turns 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7
Seat type: Grandstand seating
Covered: No
Big screen?: Yes
Numbered seating: Yes

This grandstand is placed in the middle of the general admission area along the back straight. Placed between turns 3 and 4, you’ll catch the cars racing along the key DRS zone. This means you’ll either see overtakes completed in the exit of turn 3, or rivals line each other up for a move into turn 4.

Placed at the top of the hill, fans also get a great vantage point across the entire track. You’ll be able to see as far as turn 1 and keep an eye on the first lap action through the first straight. While you’ll have some great action in front of you, binoculars are recommended for the best views of the cars throughout the track.

T3 Grandstand

Action zones: Turns 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7
Seat type: Grandstand seating
Covered: No
Big screen?: Yes
Numbered seating: Yes

Located at the very top of the steepest incline at the track, the T3 grandstand is head-on at the circuit’s key overtaking zone. This tight right-hand corner is both preceded and followed by a long DRS zone. This means the cars can follow closely and attempt an overtake at the apex of turn 3, or opt for patience and unleash their move into turn 4.

During the 2022 race, fans in the turn 3 grandstand witnessed an epic battle. Five cars from four teams battled wheel-to-wheel with an almighty scramble at turn 3. Fans in this stand will never be disappointed with the action they witness before them.

T8 Grandstand

Action zones: Turns 7 and 8
Seat type: Grandstand seating
Covered: No
Big screen?: Yes
Numbered seating: Yes

This unique grandstand is set quite far back from the track, but fans get a great view of the cars through turns 7 and 8. This quick change in direction can be tricky, as Lewis Hamilton found out during qualifying at the 2022 Grand Prix.

General admission at the Austria F1 Grand Prix

Austria very much as a rough-and-ready festival vibe to it. Dropped in the middle of the Austrian mountains with little in the way of the swank and luxurious accommodation other circuits have to offer, you’ll probably pitch up a tent in a campsite for your stay, party through the night at one of the many makeshift bars near the track, and by day, you’ll be awoken by the glorious moos of the local cattle.

For this reason, racegoers are more than happy to pop-up a camp chair on a grassy verge and enjoy the race from one of the wildly popular general admission spots.

Green general admission tickets will get you access to the highest point of the track, along the back straight of the circuit. If you are sat towards turn three, you’ll have a prime view of a major overtaking zone. Just ask Max Verstappen who bumped Charles Leclerc off the track in 2019 to take victory (told you he’d make amends…). If you’re sat towards turn four, you’ll be at the end of the second DRS zone, as drivers will battle to be last of the late breakers. As you’re at the highest point, you’ll also get a great view of rest of the track as the pack moves through a lap.

These areas are for the diehard racing fans who aren’t worried about luxuries and just want to see some racing, whatever the weather (which is usually pretty hot).

Want to know more about the action on track? Read Autosport’s report from the 2020 Austria F1 Grand Prix.