Austrian Grand Prix statfile

30 June 2016 10:53

The Formula One circus has parked up in Spielberg for the Austrian Grand Prix this weekend.

Here, Press Association Sport looks at the key trivia and statistics heading into the ninth round of the championship.

* Nico Rosberg, who re-established a 24-point lead over Lewis Hamilton in the championship courtesy of victory in Azerbaijan, arrives in Spielberg with a 100 per cent record since the Red Bull Ring - formerly the A1 Ring - returned to the calendar in 2014.

* Indeed Rosberg is the only current driver to have won the Austrian Grand Prix following an 11-year gap. The German, who celebrated his 31st birthday earlier this week, has also led 105 laps here. Only Mika Hakkinen (136) and Alain Prost (114) can better that record in Austria.

* A victory for Rosberg on Sunday would see him become the most successful driver on the modern circuit layout. He is currently tied with Michael Schumacher and Hakkinen on two wins.

* Schumacher holds the lap record around Spielberg, set back in qualifying in 2003, but with the aid of ultrasoft tyres, and a recently resurfaced track, that record is likely to be broken this weekend.

* A victory for Lewis Hamilton would mark the 250th for a British driver in Formula One. Britain boasts more winners than any other country with 19 drivers having taken to the top step of the podium.

* In nine grands prix on the current track configuration, only three of those have been won from pole position. Rosberg's back-to-back victories in Austria have been secured from third (2014) and second (2015) on the grid.

* The Austrian Grand Prix marks a week of birthdays for the Formula One grid. Rosberg turned 31 on Monday, Daniel Ricciardo will celebrate his 27th birthday on Friday, while Sebastian Vettel hits 29 on race day.

* McLaren have just 23 points to their name this season, but they have won more races (six) in Austria than any other constructor.

***

Venue: Red Bull Ring

Circuit length: 4.326km/2.121miles

Laps: 71

Race distance: 307.020km/190.136miles

Lap record: 1 min 08.337 seconds (Michael Schumacher, 2003)

2015 pole position: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 1 min 08.455 seconds

2015 winner: Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)

2015 fastest lap: Nico Rosberg (Mercedes ) 1 min 11.235 seconds

Number of corners: 9 (2 left, 7 right)

Tyre compounds to be used: soft/supersoft/ultrasoft

Bumpiness: very smooth

Overtaking chance: primarily into turns 1, 2 and 3

Engine severity: medium

Brake wear severity: hard

Gearbox severity: low

Winners from pole position since 2004: 0

No of safety cars deployed since 2004: 1

Friday, July 1

Free practice 1: 1000-1130 (UK time: 0900-1030)

Free practice 2: 1400-1530 (UK time: 1300-1430)

Saturday, July 2

Free practice 3: 1100-1200 (UK time: 1000-1100)

Qualifying: 1400 (UK time: 1300)

Sunday, July 3

Austrian Grand Prix: 1400 (UK time: 1300)

Source: PA