Formula 2 - Spielberg

The Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria, hosts a round of the FIA Formula 2 Championship in 2026. This event runs as a support series alongside the Formula 1 Austrian Grand Prix. The circuit offers one of the most scenic settings in motorsport, with the Styrian mountains providing a stunning backdrop for F2 racing action.

Formula 2 Race Weekend Format

The Spielberg F2 event follows the standard Formula 2 weekend structure. Teams and drivers participate in one 45-minute free practice session to familiarize themselves with the Red Bull Ring layout. A single 30-minute qualifying session determines the starting grid for Sunday's Feature Race. The top 10 qualifiers have their positions reversed to create the Sprint Race grid.

Saturday features the Sprint Race, which runs for 120 kilometers or 45 minutes, whichever comes first. The top eight drivers earn points using the 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 distribution. Sunday morning brings the Feature Race before the main Formula 1 event. This longer race covers 170 kilometers or 60 minutes and includes a mandatory pit stop where teams must change all four tyres. Drivers must use both dry-weather tyre specifications unless conditions require wet-weather tyres. The top ten finishers score points with the winner receiving 25 points. The pole position holder earns two bonus points. Both races award one point to the driver who sets the fastest lap, provided they finish in the top 10.

Red Bull Ring Circuit Characteristics

The Red Bull Ring measures 4.326 kilometers in length and features 10 turns. Drivers navigate the circuit in a clockwise direction. The track is known for significant elevation changes, with uphill sections reaching a 12% gradient and downhill portions dropping at 9.3%. This creates unique challenges for F2 drivers as they manage braking points and acceleration zones.

Turn 1, now named Niki Lauda Kurve, provides a major overtaking opportunity at the start and throughout the race. Turn 2 is the slowest corner on the circuit and offers prime out-braking chances. The Drag Reduction System zones at Spielberg match those used in Formula 1, giving drivers additional tools for overtaking maneuvers. The Red Bull Ring holds FIA Grade 1 homologation, confirming its suitability for top-level international competition.

The F2 lap record at the Red Bull Ring stands at 1:13.396, set by Charles Leclerc driving for PREMA Racing in 2017. This benchmark represents the ultimate pace achievable at Spielberg in Formula 2 machinery.

2026 F2 Teams and Drivers

Formula 2 operates as a spec series, ensuring all competitors use identical equipment. This levels the playing field and places emphasis on driver skill and team strategy. The 2026 season features eleven teams, each fielding two drivers at Spielberg.

Invicta Racing runs Rafael Câmara and Joshua Dürksen. Hitech TGR fields Ritomo Miyata alongside Colton Herta. Campos Racing enters Noel León and Nikola Tsolov. DAMS Lucas Oil brings Dino Beganovic and Roman Bilinski. MP Motorsport competes with Gabriele Minì and Oliver Goethe. Prema Racing, one of the most successful F2 teams, runs Mari Boya and Sebastián Montoya. Rodin Motorsport fields Alex Dunne and Martinius Stenshorne. ART Grand Prix enters Kush Maini and Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak. AIX Racing brings Emerson Fittipaldi Jr. and Cian Shields. Van Amersfoort Racing runs Nicolás Varrone and Rafael Villagómez. Trident completes the grid with John Bennett and Laurens van Hoepen.

Technical Specifications

All F2 teams at Spielberg use the Dallara F2 2024 chassis. A Mecachrome-assembled 3.4-liter turbocharged V6 engine powers each car. Pirelli serves as the exclusive tyre supplier, providing five sets of dry-weather tyres per driver for the weekend. Each driver receives three sets of prime compound tyres and two sets of option compound tyres. Wet-weather tyres are available if conditions require them.

The series prohibits individual developments or upgrades. All spare parts must come directly from F2 championship organizers. Dallara handles repairs to structural components to maintain chassis integrity across the field. The 2026 championship continues to increase the use of sustainable components in its Aramco-supplied fuel, with plans to adopt fully synthetic fuels by 2027.

Circuit History and Heritage

The Spielberg circuit has evolved through several iterations. The original Österreichring opened in 1969, replacing the Zeltweg airfield circuit. This longer, faster configuration hosted the Austrian Grand Prix from 1970 to 1987. The circuit was shortened and rebuilt as the A1-Ring in the mid-1990s, bringing Formula 1 back from 1997 to 2003.

Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz purchased the facility in 2004. After further reconstruction, the venue reopened as the Red Bull Ring in 2011. Formula 1 returned in 2014, and Formula 2 has contested races at Spielberg since 2017. The circuit has welcomed some of racing's greatest names, including Jochen Rindt, Niki Lauda, Alain Prost, and Michael Schumacher across its various configurations.

What Makes Spielberg Special

The Red Bull Ring ranks among the shortest circuits used in F2 competition. This compact layout often produces incredibly close qualifying sessions where hundredths of a second separate drivers. The natural topography provides spectators with views of large portions of the track, making it easier to follow the race action.

The scenic location in the Austrian Alps creates a unique atmosphere. The mountains form a natural amphitheater around the circuit. Turn 1 was renamed Niki Lauda Kurve in 2019 to honor the Austrian three-time Formula 1 World Champion. This tribute connects modern F2 racing to the sport's legendary past.

The combination of elevation changes, fast corners, and hard braking zones tests every aspect of F2 driver ability. The short lap length means traffic management becomes crucial during qualifying. Race strategy plays a vital role, particularly in the Feature Race where teams must choose the optimal moment for their mandatory pit stop. The Spielberg F2 event offers fans close racing, strategic variety, and a showcase of emerging talent on one of motorsport's most picturesque stages.