VIENNA: Formula One will return to Austria in July 2014 after an 11-year break, F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone and Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz said yesterday.
The two men “have reached an agreement that Formula One will return to the (Austria region) Styria next year, to the Red Bull Ring at Spielberg,” a joint statement said.
The last time a Formula One race was held in Austria was in 2003, when Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher took the chequered flag at the A1 Ring, as the since-modernised Spielberg track was then called.
“It’s the best thing that could happen to us. The worldwide publicity this will bring Austria is worth its weight in gold. I always hoped that F1 would come back to Austria,” said retired triple world champion Niki Lauda.
The exact schedule for 2014 is due to be finalised by governing body the International Automobile Federation (FIA) in September, with 2014 Winter Olympics host city Sochi in Russia, another new venue to be included.
According to Red Bull, speaking to Austrian news agency APA, there is an agreement in place for the country to host a Grand Prix until 2020.
Next year’s event is due to take place on July 6 and will take the total number of races from 19 this year to 21 in 2014.
Another Austrian former F1 racer Gerhard Berger said: “We have a perfect setting with the Ring and an Austrian team in Red Bull. The fans have been waiting for this for many years.”
AFP
