Official: Return of the Austrian Grand Prix in 2014

After 10 seasons of absence, the Austrian Grand Prix will return next season, at the former A1 Ring now known as the Red Bull Ring since its purchase by the Austrian company.

It was through a brief statement this morning that Red Bull announced an agreement had been reached between the holder of the Formula 1 rights, Bernie Ecclestone, and Dietrich Mateschitz, the big boss of the Red Bull, providing that F1 will return to Styria [the Austrian region where the circuit is located, ed.] next year.

The Spielberg circuit will therefore be back on the discipline’s calendar for the first time since 2003, when the race was won by Michael Schumacher in a Ferrari. Made especially famous by the two orders orchestrated by Ferrari against Rubens Barrichello in 2001 and 2002 to let the Red Baron pass, the track had almost fallen into disuse when it was bought by Red Bull in 2005. But in 2008, the energy drink company made massive investments (around 70 million euros) to restore the track, while denying interest in the return of F1, aiming instead to prioritize the arrival of DTM. Nevertheless, as sporting events multiplied there—the most recent being the World Series by Renault meeting last weekend—and Red Bull gained increasing importance in the pinnacle of the premier category, it logically led to an agreement for organizing Grand Prix events, after Dietrich Mateschitz clearly showed his support for it this winter.

Although the date of July 6, 2014, has already been proposed, approval of the future calendar at the next World Motor Sport Council is still required to validate the inclusion of the Red Bull Ring among the races for next season, even though it seems hardly conceivable that a contrary decision will be made.