Marko reveals: "It's done. It is a multi-year contract"

F1 News

23 December 2020 at 14:55
Last update 23 December 2020 at 18:01
  • GPblog.com

On Austrian ServusTV, Helmut Marko, Red Bull's top advisor in Formula 1, has stated that the Red Bull Ring has signed a new contract and will remain on the calendar for the coming years.

Double season opener

The Red Bull Ring has been on the Formula 1 calendar under that name since 2014. Before that time it was used under the name Österreichring (1970-1987) or A1-Ring (1997-2003).

Last season there were two races on the Red Bull Ring as part of the season opener. One as the Austrian Grand Prix and one as the Styrian Grand Prix. The races were won by Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton respectively.

Multi-year contract

"It's done. It is a multi-year contract", says Marko on ServusTV. Officially it has not yet been announced. The Red Bull Ring was already on the calendar for 2021, despite the contract expiring this year.

According to Marko, the double season opener in Austria contributed to the new contract this year. "Liberty has seen what Red Bull is capable of. Without our initiative, the Formula 1 season would almost certainly not have taken place in this form if it had taken place at all."

Orange sea

The Austrian Grand Prix has been a popular race for Dutch fans in recent years. Should there be public admission again in 2021, Marko is very much looking forward to it. "We will see an orange sea of spectators again. We expect another 30,000 to 40,000 Dutch spectators. We are looking forward to and happy that we will be able to organise Austria's biggest sporting event for several years to come."