Red Bull's plan for F1 start falls well in Austria: "Would be insane"

26 April 2020 at 16:01

Last update 26 April 2020 at 16:33

GPblog.com

Should the Austrian Grand Prix actually take place at the beginning of July, then that is not only positive news for Formula 1, but also for Spielberg and surroundings. It would provide the Austrian region with the necessary overnight stays, which would allow the economy there to slowly start up again.

"It would be insane to be in the limelight of the whole world after a very serious crisis", Michael Ranzmaier-Hausleitner of the Tourism Department in Spielberg is quoted by the Austrian television channel ORF. The municipality of Spielberg has also been hit hard by the corona crisis. "Therefore, it would be a blessing for the region and also for the accommodation providers and the tourism industry."

According to reports, the Austrian Grand Prix will be held on 5 July at the Red Bull Ring. It was to be the first major international sporting event in a long time. An idea that comes from Red Bull Racing. Ranzmaier-Hausleitner sees it as an extra bonus. "I think the advertising value will be even better for the region, because a lot of people will be eager to sit in front of the television."

F1 ensures thousands of hotel reservations

Moreover, it is not only good for the image of Spielberg; it also helps the economy directly. Helmut Marko recently indicated that the second GP of 2020 should also take place in Austria, one week later. If the Formula 1 Circus travels to Spielberg and stays there for two weeks, that would mean some 25,000 overnight stays for the region. "Even if that's just a drop in the ocean."