2022 Austrian Grand Prix

Championship standings

Max Verstappen leads the Drivers’ Championship by 34 points from Sergio Pérez in second, with Charles Leclerc a further nine points behind in third after the British Grand Prix. Red Bull Racing leads Ferrari by 63 points and Mercedes by 124 in the Constructors’ Championship.

Previous race

Sainz took his first Formula One victory at Silverstone. The race was red-flagged after a multi-car crash at the start and restarted with original positions — Sainz, who had claimed pole, led away again. Verstappen overtook him early but dropped to seventh after picking up floor damage. Leclerc, having moved to the front after the restart, lost the lead to a sequence of tyre stops under the safety car and finished fourth. Pérez finished second and Hamilton third.

Sprint format

This is the second sprint weekend of the 2022 season. Qualifying takes place on Friday evening; the sprint race runs on Saturday morning followed by FP2.

Fan conduct

During the Austrian Grand Prix weekend, some fans harassed other spectators in the grandstands, drawing condemnation from across the paddock. Hamilton called the behaviour “disgusting,” Verstappen described it as “shocking,” and Vettel called on Formula One to impose lifetime bans on offenders. Race organisers have responded by banning glass, alcohol, and smoke flares from the circuit.

Tyre choices

Pirelli brings the C3, C4, and C5 compounds (hard, medium, soft).

Practice

Two practice sessions are held this weekend. FP1 took place on Friday 8 July and FP2 on Saturday 9 July.