Red Bull Ring track

...and this is the castrated version, the full course looked like this: I have already posted it elsewhere: it seems to be 1977 just when they were making the first chicane at the top of the hill. You can see where the shorter current course cuts through.

Here old onboards in various F1 cars from 70's onwards: never mind the silly sounding commentator: good material.



Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Most of the uncastrated ring is still present.
TV cameras go to great lengths to disguise that. {Same at Spa and Monza}

 

Yes 60-65% is left but all the constant radius curves were broken into sharp curves except the inner loop. It lost its charm, its uniqueness. Still a gorgeous place for a GP, I will go go see it as soon as possible, would have gone this year if it weren't for the spectator ban and media restriction.

 

In "The Art and Science of Grand Prix Driving" Niki Lauda had included the Hella Licht Curve (pre-chicane) as one of the most challenging in F1. There is a photo in the book that shows the view an approaching car would have at the end of that long uphill straight, going into a fast blind righthander. Must have been a real challenge.

 

Although in fairness that qualifying session looked to be sufficiently challenging... And the drivers lived up to their status as the best considering how few offs, and no bad crashes occurred despite the conditions. Hamilton and Max particularly seemed to have some special skills.

 

With modern downforce, the Hella Licht Curve is probably flat out, or nearly so.