The Austrian Grand Prix costs less than half a Silverstone weekend and it might be a better day out
Austria is often overlooked as a European F1 destination in favour of places like Hungary, Spain, Monaco or Belgium. And while these do host some exciting and historic races - the Monaco Grand Prix especially - it’s a shame that the Austrian Grand Prix isn’t in the conversation, as it’s a truly underrated European race to attend.
One reason it’s so good is the location. Spielberg is in the heart of the Alps, with the Red Bull Ring track cutting a tarmac ribbon through the hillside. That Alpine setting also means the track is surrounded by beautiful, rolling hills and mountain peaks, making it an incredibly picturesque track compared to others.
The Red Bull Ring is truly a unique venue, owned by the same company that owns the Red Bull team. This makes it a home race for them, with fans coming from far and wide to support the team at their own circuit. In typical Red Bull form, they always put on a show too, with DJs, music, events, fan zones and on-track action to really sell the high-octane lifestyle they live by. The “Orange Army” of Max Verstappen fans also give it an immense atmosphere both on and off track.
That commitment to excitement also gives the circuit an atmosphere all of its own. Loud, fun-loving and energetic, it’s pushed even more by the fact that it’s Germany’s closest F1 race and it’s a popular race for Dutch fans, so there’s a very European mix of fans in attendance.
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If you haven’t got the budget for Monaco or the British Grand Prix, Austria is a remarkably affordable race to visit, and surprisingly cost-effective compared to some other more popular races but you’ll need to plan far in advance before tickets sell out.
The Red Bull Ring - Circuit
The track itself has the fewest corners of any track on the F1 calendar at just 10, one of which isn’t really a corner at all. It’s essentially three long straights with a few corners in the middle, making it a slipstream dream and often causing havoc in the big braking zones.
It’s also cut into the hillside with 65 metres of elevation change, giving it a natural amphitheatre.The highest part is at Turn 3 and the lowest part down on the start/finish straight means you get an incredible view of the short track from most vantage points.
The General Admission area - running from Turn 3 to Turn 4 - gives you not only that incredible view, but an incredible sound. That’s because Turn 3 is the slowest on the track and leads into the second-longest straight, with drivers upshifting six times along the straight.This year with new engines, this vantage point will give you a chance to hear them at full aggression - braking hard on the way into Turn 3, and accelerating hard out of it.
Where to buy tickets and hospitality options
The 2026 Austrian Grand Prix takes place between the 26th - 28th June, and to say it’s one of the shortest tracks, there are still plenty of ticket options available.
tickets.formula1.com - is a third-party operator affiliated with F1, which is reflected in the pricing. A three-day GA ticket at Silverstone is £499.95 here versus £419 through the circuit direct.
Circuit websites - often the cheapest route and the one most fans overlook. Not every circuit sells independently, but it's always worth checking before going through a reseller.
Third party ticket resellers - useful for experience packages you won't find elsewhere. To avoid ticket scams and ensure a money-back guarantee, always purchase resale tickets through verified sites.
- Buy from StubHub - tickets start from £17 for a day pass to the Austrian Grand Prix
- Buy from HelloTickets - tickets start from £300 for a Sunday race day pass.
- Buy from Seat Unique - get a premium experience from £550.
General Admission - £239
At just £239 for a full weekend General Admission ticket, the Austrian Grand Prix is an unexpectedly cheaper option. The British GP for comparison is £400+ and doesn’t offer nearly the same view of the track as you get at Spielberg, mostly because of the GA location. That’s because it’s at the top of the track, and runs from the outside of Turn 3 to the outside of Turn 4 - offering you fantastic views not just of the straight, but the entire track given its elevation.
Now, this incredible view does come at a cost not reflected in the price; walking. You’re looking at a steep hike from the main entrance up to the General Admission area, which is 65 metres higher and around a mile away from the entrance at the closest point. There are other gates you can use but, if you want to look around the shops and fanzone, you’re in for a long walk, so proper footwear and a lightweight bag are worth sorting before you go.
One other thing to mention for General Admission is that, unlike at some other circuits, it doesn’t grant you access to everywhere. While General Admission at tracks like Silverstone largely gives you access to wander around the track, GA at the Red Bull Ring only gets you into the dedicated GA area. The Blue (outside of Turn 1 to Turn 3) and Yellow (outside of Turn 4, interior of track, and start/finish straight) areas are only accessible to people with grandstand tickets for those areas. That means missing out on the iconic Red Bull statue, a towering steel bull that is located in the Yellow Zone of the circuit directly behind the Mitte Grandstand.
Mitte Grandstand - £385
If you’ve watched the Austrian GP on TV before, you know the Mitte Grandstand (Centre Grandstand) is almost entirely orange. Located on the inside of Turns 6 and 7, it’s the designated Max Verstappen fan stand and it offers a brilliant view of two very committed corners, as well as the straight from Turn 1 to Turn 3 and Turn 3 itself. You’ve also got the bull statue directly behind, giving you the chance to get some Instagram shots in while you’re there.
It’s got that electric atmosphere given everyone there supports Max Verstappen, but If you're not a Max fan, consider this your polite warning.
Turn 8 Grandstand - £385
Just down the track from the Mitte Grandstand is the Turn 8 Grandstand. Overlooking the short straight from Turn 8 to Turn 9, you’ll be able to watch drivers set up a potential overtake into Turn 9, as well as catching anyone who’s made a mistake running through the gravel on the outside of Turn 7. This stand is also close enough to see the bull statue.
Turns 9 & 10 Grandstands - £423+
Situated on the outside of the final corner is the Turn 10 grandstand. You’ll have a view of Turns 9 and 10 immediately in front of you, some of the start/finish straight and Turn 1 (depending on where you’re sitting, if you can see over the main building) and drivers diving into the pit lane, so some fast and exciting corners. Your view of the rest of the track will be blocked by trees, but there is a big screen opposite to keep up with the action. One thing to note about this, as well as Grandstand 8 and Mitte, is that they’re uncovered - meaning that you’ll probably want a hat if it’s sunny, or a coat if it’s raining.
from £499
Red Bull Grandstand C/D/E - £503+
The first of the stands in the Blue section, the Red Bull Grandstand is the large stand on the outside of Turn 2. From here you’ll have a view of drivers accelerating out of the first corner, through Turn 2 (which is really just a slight kink) and up towards Turn 3. Looking over the straight you’ll also be able to see Turns 6 and 7, giving you a view of the other half of the circuit. One point here is that the stand is part-way up the hill, with seats in the A section (the lowest) being far lower than those in the P section (the highest). For anyone with mobility concerns, the lower A-section seats are the most accessible.
Schönberg Grandstand - £521+
This, along with the T3 grandstand, is the highest grandstand you can access and while it might be a trek, it’s worth it. The Schönberg stand specifically is in the General Admission area, around half-way down the straight between Turns 3 and 4. This means that you get incredible views of almost the entire track (Turns 9 and 10 are hidden by trees) and can truly appreciate the track’s undulation.
Turn 3 Grandstand - £586
Situated on the outside of Turn 3, the T3 grandstand gives similar sights to Schönberg but with a better view of Turn 3 - one of the main overtaking spots on the track. It’s worth noting that because the T3 and Schönberg stands are in/near General Admission, a lot of the facilities are shared with GA ticketholders, so arrive early or use alternative facilities to avoid longer queues.
Start Grandstand - £619+
The first of the covered grandstands, this one runs along almost the entire length of the start/finish straight. This means you’ll see the start of the race, the pits, and the podium celebrations, but you’ll have to rely on the big screens to see the rest of the action. It is the closest to the main entrance though so, if accessibility is an issue, this is a good option - especially given that aforementioned roof that the other stands don’t have.
Steiermark Grandstand - £2,699
A nod to the circuit’s location, the Steiermark stand is directly on the outside of the first corner and is a significant jump in price from the other grandstands. While it’s only slightly further around the track than the Start grandstand, you’ll see far more of the track (hence that much higher price), with views from Turn 1 to Turn 3 and Turn 6 to Turn 8, along with drivers exiting the pit lane.
Paddock Club - £4,621+
If you’re looking for VIP hospitality, the Paddock Club is where you want to be. You won’t get the best views of the track, but you’re not paying for views of racing - you’re paying for the things that nobody else at the track gets access to. Such as, being able to look down at the pit lane from above, a guided track tour, a pit lane walk, driver talks and, of course, the food and drink. At over £4,000 per person it’s not cheap but, if you want an exclusive experience, it’s the one to go for.
Camping - The Austrian GP’s Secret Weapon
Camping is usually seen as the cheaper option when visiting an F1 race - but for the Red Bull Ring, it’s the best way to experience it.
The Red Bull fan zone features music, displays, DJs, parades and more, which all contribute towards that festival atmosphere that’s only enhanced by camping. The campsites are also within walking distance of the track and owned by the circuit, so everything is set up around getting to and from the race with ease. Facilities are somewhat basic (you’ll have shower and toilet facilities of course, with electricity covered in the price) as well as communal BBQs, but the atmosphere is unbeatable.
Starting at £290 for two people for four nights (Thursday - Monday) it’s definitely cost-effective as well - especially considering that includes parking for that price.
If camping isn’t your cup of tea, the town of Spielberg is a five-minute drive away (though is understandably very expensive this close to the race), while Graz is around an hour’s drive and does offer “Cityshuttle” buses to the track. Austrian capital Vienna is further at around 2.5 hours’ drive to the track, but does also have a Cityshuttle option.
But while these options give you access to a comfier bed and a toilet you are not sharing with thousands of other people, they’re not quite the same as camping. For the Austrian Grand Prix specifically, it really does offer a unique experience that can’t be found elsewhere, as the Dutch and German fans in particular flock to the circuit and party. This, coupled with the lower cost and ease of access to the circuit, make it an incredibly popular option that you have to book quickly to not be disappointed.
Getting There - The Logistics Nobody Tells You About
The Red Bull Ring’s alpine location is fantastic when you’re there, but it does mean it’s trickier to actually get to.
Graz is the closest airport at an hour’s drive from the track, but British Airways is the only operator that flies direct from the UK (and it only flies from London Gatwick). Vienna is much easier to get to from the UK, with Jet2 in particular flying from multiple airports, but that does leave you with a roughly 2.5-hour drive to get to the circuit.
Salzburg is another option that gets you closer to the track (roughly 1.5 hours’ drive from the track) but is typically more expensive to fly to than Vienna, while Munich is another option if you’re planning on combining it with trips elsewhere.
Vienna is the base option that most travel companies use as it’s the easiest to get to, with shuttles to and from the track.
If you opt to drive you’ll need parking, and pre-booking is a must as it fills up quickly. It’s also another point in favour of camping, with one car included in the cost. And speaking of cars; the journey from the airport to the track is very much a part of the trip. If you’re self-driving, the good news is that the roads are excellent and driving through the Alps is genuinely part of the experience. If you’re not driving, those Cityshuttles will help you get to and from the track with limited hassle.
How To Book & What It Really Costs
The Austrian GP can be as expensive or as cheap as you want it to be, with a few different options to suit your budget. (All prices are correct at time of writing, but book early for the best rates.)
- Buy from StubHub - tickets start from £17 for a day pass to the Austrian Grand Prix
- Buy from HelloTickets - tickets start from £300 for a Sunday race day pass.
- Buy from Seat Unique - get a premium experience from £550.
The Festival Fan: under £1,000
If you’re all about the vibes and the atmosphere, you can do the Austrian GP for relatively cheap. £239 for a General Admission ticket, £290 for four nights of camping, a flight with Austrian for £331 and around £80 for a shuttle will see you get from Heathrow to the track for just under £1,000, with food on top of that. It’ll be the more basic of trips, but the atmosphere will be worth it.
The Comfortable Fan: around £1,200
If you’re of an age or disposition where having somewhere to sit for three days sounds more enticing, you can look at a grandstand seat in addition to your flights. The cheapest grandstands are the Mitte and Turn 8 Grandstands at £385, both of which put you right next to that big statue. You’ll probably also want a bed, and four nights in the Ruby Sofie Hotel in Vienna will set you back £400 in addition to those £331 flights - putting your cost at around £1,200 before factoring in things like a car or shuttle for travelling to and from the circuit.
The VIP: £4,000+
If money is no object, go straight for the Paddock Club. It’s the swankiest, most premium way to experience (experience, not necessarily watch) the race, and food and drink is naturally covered in the price. If you’re spending the money for Paddock Club you may as well stay somewhere fancy, and Haus Dietrich is suitably luxurious. It’s located 200 metres from the track itself, offering views of the circuit and a very easy commute to and from the action. That’s going to be £4,439 for the four nights. If we assume you took the same flights as everyone else, you’re approaching five figures for this typically cheaper race - but you’ll be doing it in style.
If you’re planning in advance for 2027 tickets for next year’s Austrian Grand Prix goes on sale nine to 12 months before the race. The race is a popular one so tickets are picked up quickly and, with the Dutch GP dropping off the calendar next year, Austria will be the closest option for both Dutch and German fans to visit, so expect extra competition and register for alerts.
The race’s location in the calendar (between the Barcelona and British Grands Prix) does offer you the chance to turn it into a European trip (the Austrian race is two weeks after Barcelona, with the British the week after that) so turning into a proper tour is an option if you’re feeling adventurous.
The Austrian Grand Prix doesn't get the hype it deserves. Once you've been, you'll know why it should. The racing is good, the views are better, and the atmosphere is unique. With the new cars and two more cars on the grid this year, there’s even more reason to visit this spectacular track.
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Topics: Formula 1
Tom Jeffries