Who are you/ your role: Ella, Operations

Your trip: Austrian Grand Prix, Spielberg. 27th June-1st July 2024.

What was your favourite part of Vienna? Vienna is a true bucket list destination and somewhere I’d always wanted to visit. A city filled with history, culture and charm, it’s hard to pick a single favourite part! In any city, my favourite thing to do is just wander the streets, taking in the architecture, experiencing the culture, and watching the world go by from a little street café, and Vienna is truly perfect for this.

Personally, I loved walking along the banks of the Danube Canal where the locals congregate in the evening for dinner and drinks in the sunshine. The atmosphere was absolutely buzzing, particularly when Austria were beating the Netherlands in the Euros! 

What was your favourite part of the trip?

My favourite part of the trip was being able to experience two vastly different areas of Austria in Vienna and Spielberg. I loved the free time in Vienna, being able to explore the bustling streets and take in the history and culture of this incredible city. In contrast, the Red Bull Ring is nestled in the mountains, surrounded by woodland, and is undoubtedly one of the most picturesque circuits in the calendar. 

How was the Race? 

The Red Bull Ring is known for its fast paced racing, with plenty of overtaking opportunities and the 2024 race did not disappoint! The sprint race on Saturday gave us a glimpse of what was to come during the race, with Norris fighting Verstappen early on, until Piastri took advantage of a gap left by them both and overtook his McLaren teammate to finish 2nd. 

On Sunday, after some early tension at the front of the grid the race seemed to settle into the inevitable, Verstappen 1st, Norris 2nd and Ferrari racing the Mercedes for 3rd. It seemed a procession for Max in the Red Bull car on their home circuit, until a couple of poor pitstops allowed Lando to get closer than he ever should have. For the spectators at the track, this is all we could have hoped for! A constant battle that lasted lap after lap seemed to go on forever as Lando gained time on Max, slowly but surely leading to a real threat. Finally, with Lando in striking distance, and a DRS advantage, he shot for the smallest of gaps round the outside of the Red Bull, but as Max slammed the door closed on that gap, he forced contact between the two drivers leaving both with a punctured tyre. We'll leave it up to you to decide who was at fault! 

Shock for the fans round the circuit, disappointment for both Norris and Verstappen, but joy and most likely surprise for George Russell who managed to capitalise on the incident by taking home the victory in the final few laps! A British race winner leading into the Silverstone Grand Prix next weekend...

What would you recommend doing when visiting Vienna/the Austrian Grand Prix?

At the Red Bull Ring, I definitely recommend walking around the circuit if you’re able. It can be hilly in parts but the sweeping views from the top of the track make the walk more than worth it! There are food and drinks stands at regular intervals serving all your favourite Austrian cuisines, so you can stop for a schnitzel or pretzel break on route. 

The Red Bull Ring really puts on a show, from the Fan Zone to the Flying Bulls. With live music throughout the day, football and motorcycle stuntmen, and beer flowing, the Fan Zone really brings the Bavarian atmosphere. Don’t miss the air show which encompasses jets, gliders, wingsuit jumpers and helicopters doing loop the loops.