F1: Austrian Grand Prix Preview and Betting Tips

George Russell became the fourth different race winner in 2025 with a dominant display in the Mercedes. Rookie Kimi Antonelli collected his first podium finish for the Brackley-based team with a superb third-place finish.

But the drama unfolded further down the grid as McLaren teammates and championship rivals Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris collided at the tail of the race. Norris tried to pass the Australian on the outside and ran out of track, colliding with the wall and registering his first DNF of the season. Piastri finished fourth and increased his lead to 22 points over Norris.

There’s a lot to play for at this weekend’s race in the Styrian mountains at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg. Last year, Russell fortuitously won in Austria after Norris and Max Verstappen collided on lap 64 while tussling for the lead. The Dutch driver received a 10-second penalty, and Norris was unable to finish the race. Let’s see how this year’s race might play out.

The Track

The 4.318 kmRed Bull Ring is one of the shortest circuits on the calendar, featuring several high-speed sections that make it exciting to see F1 cars power around it. Qualifying lap times dip below 1:04, and Carlos Sainz holds the lap record at 1:05.609.

There are 10 corners, seven left and three right, with high-speed sections aplenty. Three DRS zones give the drivers many opportunities to overtake. Other interesting stats are that 79% of the lap is done at full throttle, and the top speed is close to 330km/h.

The dramatic elevation change between the first and third turns is pure cinema, and we’ve seen several hair-raising moments there over the years.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen will have a sizeable advantage off-track as thousands of Dutch fans usually fill up the stands at the Red Bull Ring, the team’s home race.  The 27-year-old also has the most wins here, with four (2018-2019, 2021, and 2023).

Who Are The Favourites?

It’s hard to ignore Verstappen’s record at his team’s home track, and Ring’s layout should be kind to the Red Bull. Therefore, it’s hard to ignore the four-time world champion with odds of to win the race.

However, the McLarens have been strong across most tracks this season, winning seven of the 10 races thus far. Piastri has shown to deliver the goods in the final qualifying session over his teammate and start on pole, and that should give him a strong chance this weekend. He’s the favourite at 2.625, ahead of Norris at 3.25.

If Mercedes can replicate their form in Canada a fortnight ago, they’ll be in a good position to cement second position in the constructors’ championship. However, the Mercedes team boss is wary of a consecutive double podium finish for the team. He told Reuters: “We know that our rivals will likely be much more competitive in Austria this weekend.

“The track in Spielberg will be a good test of our recent updates and provide another reference point for our progress.”

One Mercedes driver to look out for is rookie Kimi Antonelli. The Italian is at 6.00 to claim a podium finish, and based on his performance in Canada and how strong Merc was in Austria in 2024, it could be a worthwhile punt.

Speaking of podium finishers, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc is at 3.40 to step onto the rostrum. He has one win in Austria, and several second-place finishers could see him challenge the McLarens and Max. Ferrari is reportedly set to introduce much-needed upgrades, and we could see that in Austria.

Lastly, Williams has a car that’s rapid on the straights, and with a flat-out section of 868 metres, we could see the Grove team surprise a few of the bigger teams. Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon are capable of delivering strong drives, and they’ll need their strategists and pit crew to be firing on all cylinders.

Predictions

Grand Prix Winner: Lando Norris

Grand Prix Podium: Norris, Verstappen, Piastri

Pole Position: Norris

Top 4 and 5: Leclerc, Russell

Race Winning Margin: Over 5 seconds

Fastest Lap: Verstappen

First to Retire: Colapinto

First car to retire: Alpine

Most Team Points: McLaren

Both Cars Qualify for Q3 Shootout: Williams

Practice 1/2/3 Winning Car: Norris / McLaren

Safety Car: Yes

Fastest pit stop: Ferrari