What to expect at this weekend's 2023 Austrian Grand Prix

The Austrian Grand Prix takes place at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria. That name should tell you something: This is Red Bull's home race, one it always wants to win, but it's especially important for it to win this year given that it's the first race in Austria since the death of Red Bull's Austrian founder Dietrich Mateschitz. The entire Red Bull organization is carrying the weight of his legacy on its shoulders this weekend.

Red Bull appears to be managing that pressure just fine. Verstappen has already locked up a first-place start on the race grid and will enter the Grand Prix as the strong favorite.

At just 2.68 miles, Red Bull Ring is the shortest track on the Formula One calendar. This means that there is always "traffic" during the race; the top drivers are regularly forced to lap back markers as the race progresses. There is no such thing as "clear air" in a track as cramped as this one.

It's also one of the highest tracks at 2,220 feet of elevation. While that's not considered "at altitude" for human lungs, it's absolutely considered "at altitude" for fragile Formula One engines. Many of them fail spectacularly in Austria and more may this weekend.

The track is also notorious for the way it polices its limits. Formula One drivers must stay within track limits at every circuit, but Austria's limits are so precise —  and so difficult to adhere to — that it's common to see dozens of lap times deleted because a driver's wheel went a centimeter beyond the agreed upon edge of the track. Sergio Perez was eliminated in qualifying Friday morning in 15th place after his fastest lap was deemed illegal for a minuscule violation. See if you can spot it:

The Austrian Grand Prix features a sprint race Saturday followed by a full race on Sunday. Red Bull's Verstappen is the clear favorite in both, but keep an eye on Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz of Ferrari, Alex Albon of Williams and Pierre Gasly of Alpine as well — all have looked speedy and could challenge for big points.