Austrian Grand Prix at Red Bull Ring sees technical upgrades and new tyre mixes

The 2026 Austrian Grand Prix returns to the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg on 28 June. Practice sessions start Friday with two free‑practice periods, a third on Saturday, followed by qualifying and the race on Sunday. Pirelli will supply the three softest tyre compounds (C3, C4 and C5) and expects teams may run a single‑stop strategy because tyre wear is driven mainly by temperature rather than asphalt abrasiveness.

Teams face specific technical challenges. The 2026 regulations remove the MGU‑H, forcing turbochargers to work harder at the circuit’s 677 m altitude. Honda warned that this could strain the turbo and cooling systems for Aston Martin and other customers. Red Bull will bring a new upgrade package for the RB22, though team principal Laurent Mekies says it will only narrow, not close, the performance gap to Ferrari and Mercedes. McLaren will test a reversible rear wing similar to Ferrari’s “Macarena” device, while Ferrari and Mercedes continue their own aerodynamic and power‑unit refinements.

Driver‑specific notes include Argentine rookie Franco Colapinto (Alpine) targeting points after a strong showing in Barcelona, and the continued lack of podiums for Fernando Alonso at this venue. The event will be streamed live via F1 TV Premium and other regional broadcasters.