Picture Credit: X
Come to Austria and experience the "Sound of Music" they say. Except, this sound is all about the vibrant and pulsating F1 machines. The hills will very much be alive as twenty cars and thus, ten teams will get rolling for a brilliant 71-lap battle that is about to unfold come June 29, 2025.
Over the years, Austria has shown the dramatic victory of legends like Niki Lauda, a local legend, now a late great of the sport, with the likes of Prost, Mika and even George Russell, as seen in 2024 ruling the Styrian Alps serenading the Red Bull Ring.
It's a venue where Max Verstappen holds the record for most wins, we know that. But which drivers have set blazingly fast lap times here as seen in the past?
Lap record by Carlos Sainz in 2020
In the year 2020, Carlos Sainz jr., a highly capable driver and one swooned over by the ladies set a blistering lap time of 1:05:619 in his McLaren. Even though he'd finish that year's Austrian Grand Prix on fifth with teammate Norris beating him in the event, it was the Madrid-born driver's cracking speed that set the speed gun rolling. Currently, Sainz with Williams, a strong midfielder, will very much target a respectable finish inside points this coming weekend as the podium possibility is likely out of his reach given other faster cars out there.
Fastest lap record by Valtteri Bottas in 2020 Q3
In the run-up to the 2020 Austrian Grand Prix, with Styrian Grand Prix, held at the same venue being a key attraction that very year, Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas emerged with an exceptional performance in his final flying lap during Q3.
Then with Mercedes, he set a flying 1:02:939 and took pole, converting the brilliant Saturday result into a sweet victory on Sunday. However, it was Lando Norris, then a rising McLaren talent who'd take the fastest lap of the race half a decade back in time.
Max Verstappen's fastest lap in 2023
In the 2023 Austrian Grand Prix, it was Verstappen who took pole and later converted it into a famous victory, holding off immense pressure from the faster Ferraris and McLarens. That year, the iconic Dutchman beat Charles Leclerc in the SF-23 by over 5 seconds to register a comprehensive race win. However, it was Max's faultless pole lap recorded at 1:04:391 that would give him the early advantage as the race weekend ensued. Thus far, he's won the Austrian Grand Prix on 4 seperate occasions, having even registered consecutive wins here in 2018 and 2019. But it remains to be seen whether 'Mad Max' can conquer Austria for a fifth time, and for that to happen, he will have to beat the faster McLarens this year.
Fernando Alonso's ace of a fastest lap in 2024
Last year, the previous installation of the Austrian Grand Prix saw none other than Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin, then in not the fastest car on the race track, emerge with the fastest lap of the race.
The 71-lap contest saw the famed Spaniard with a P18 in the end. But in so doing, even in finishing outside of points, the legendary double world champion did well enough to set a belter at 1:07:694. This was in the penultimate lap of the race.
