Chaos, Controversy, and Comebacks: The Most Memorable Moments in Austrian Grand Prix History

If you’ve ever wondered why the Styrian hills are alive with the sound of Formula 1 engines—and not just Julie Andrews—look no further than the Austrian Grand Prix. This is a race that has delivered everything: rain-soaked chaos, photo finishes, team orders that made grown men weep (and boo), and the kind of wild animal interventions that would make David Attenborough raise an eyebrow. As we approach the 2025 edition, let’s take a tour through the most unforgettable moments at the Österreichring, A1-Ring, and Red Bull Ring. Buckle up: Austria doesn’t do dull.

When the Rain Gods Laughed: Brambilla’s Wet and Wild 1975

The 1975 Austrian Grand Prix was less a race and more a test of who could keep their car pointing in the right direction while the heavens opened. Vittorio Brambilla, a man whose moustache was only rivaled by his bravery, seized his one and only F1 victory in a March. The race was so sodden that it was stopped after just 29 laps. Brambilla, in a fit of ecstasy, threw both hands in the air as he crossed the line—promptly crashing into the barriers. The image of him celebrating, helmet askew, car battered, is the stuff of legend.

Brambilla famously crashed into the barriers after crossing the finish line, damaging his car but still celebrating wildly.

F1 Historical Records

The Photo Finish: De Angelis vs. Rosberg, 1982

If you think modern F1 is close, try telling that to Elio de Angelis and Keke Rosberg. In 1982, the pair delivered one of the closest finishes in F1 history. De Angelis, in his black Lotus, held off Rosberg’s Williams by just 0.05 seconds. That’s less time than it takes for a Ferrari strategist to change their mind.

It was de Angelis’s first F1 win and a classic example of a nail-biting finish.

F1 Historical Records

The drama of that final lap, with Rosberg lunging and de Angelis defending for his life, remains a masterclass in racecraft. It’s the kind of finish that makes you forget to breathe.

Niki Lauda’s Homecoming: 1984

For a nation that gave us Mozart, Red Bull, and the waltz, Austria had to wait until 1984 for its own F1 hero to win at home. Niki Lauda, the man with more comebacks than a boomerang, finally triumphed at the Österreichring. And he did it with a broken gearbox, shifting between third and fifth gear while Nelson Piquet wondered if Lauda was playing mind games.

Lauda, driving for McLaren, fulfilled a lifelong dream and cemented his legendary status.

F1 Historical Records

It was the only time an Austrian has won the Austrian Grand Prix. The crowd’s roar that day could be heard all the way to Vienna.

When Teammates Attack: Coulthard vs. Häkkinen, 1999

Ah, the late 1990s: when McLaren drivers were as likely to collide with each other as with the opposition. In 1999, David Coulthard tapped Mika Häkkinen into a spin at Turn 3, sending the Finn to the back. Coulthard went on to finish second, Häkkinen recovered to third, and Ferrari’s Eddie Irvine took the win. The post-race debrief was, one imagines, frosty.

Crashing into your team mate is just about the worst thing an F1 driver can do – but it’s even worse when that same team mate is in the midst of a tight battle for the world title.

Formula1.com

The Team Orders Scandal: Ferrari’s Shame, 2002

If you want to understand why team orders is a dirty phrase in F1, look no further than Austria 2002. Rubens Barrichello, having dominated the race, was told by Ferrari to let Michael Schumacher pass for the win—right at the finish line. The crowd erupted in boos, Schumacher looked mortified, and the FIA promptly banned team orders (for a while, anyway).

Barrichello eventually obliged, and Schumacher sailed through with just a few metres of the race remaining. Ferrari’s team orders caused a media furore. The FIA fined the team $1 million, and team orders were subsequently banned from being used.

Motorsport Guides

The podium ceremony was so awkward it should be studied in business schools as a lesson in how not to manage public relations.

Wildlife Crossings: The Deer Incidents

Austria’s not just famous for its drivers; it’s also a hotspot for wildlife. In 2001, Juan Pablo Montoya was warned about a deer on track, prompting the immortal radio exchange: “It looks like a horse with horns.” Montoya’s response? “Oh deer!” (Yes, really.) In 1987, Stefan Johansson hit a deer at 225 km/h in practice, breaking his ribs but somehow surviving.

Juan Pablo Montoya was told over the radio by his race engineer that a deer was running across the track (‘Oh dear!’), which had to be supplemented by the explanation that it looked ‘like a horse with horns’.

Red Bull Ring

For those who think F1 is all about technology, Austria reminds us that sometimes, it’s about dodging the local fauna.

Mercedes Civil War: Hamilton vs. Rosberg, 2016

The 2016 race gave us a last-lap collision between Mercedes teammates Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. Hamilton went for the win, Rosberg defended, and the two collided. Hamilton took the victory, Rosberg limped home in fourth, and Toto Wolff probably needed a stiff drink.

Mercedes teammates Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton collided on the final lap while fighting for the lead. Hamilton won, Rosberg limped home in fourth, and the incident intensified their fierce rivalry.

F1 Historical Records

Verstappen’s Coming of Age: 2019

If you want to see the future of F1, look at the 2019 Austrian Grand Prix. Max Verstappen, after a poor start, hunted down Charles Leclerc and passed him with a forceful move just a few laps from the end. The stewards investigated, the fans held their breath, but the result stood. It was Red Bull’s first win with Honda power and the end of Mercedes’ unbeaten run that season.

Verstappen eventually took first place with a daring manoeuvre against the Ferrari driver.

Red Bull Ring

Watch the drama unfold here: WATCH: 5 great Austrian Grand Prix battles from the F1 archive

The COVID Opener: 2020

The world stopped in 2020, but F1 returned in Austria. The season opener was a race of attrition, with nine retirements and multiple safety cars. Lando Norris, the boy wonder, claimed his first podium after a dramatic final lap. It was a reminder that, even in the strangest times, Austria delivers the goods.

Penalties, Pandemonium, and the Modern Era

Recent years have seen Austria become a cauldron of penalties and overtaking drama. In 2021, the stewards handed out penalties like confetti, especially to Sergio Pérez and Lando Norris. The debates about racing etiquette and consistency in penalties raged on, proving that Austria is as much about controversy as it is about speed.

The Home Hero: Niki Lauda’s Singular Triumph

Let’s not forget the emotional resonance of Niki Lauda’s 1984 win. For a man who came back from the brink of death, winning at home was the ultimate vindication. It remains the only time an Austrian has stood atop the podium at the Austrian Grand Prix—a statistic that endures to this day.

Table: Notable Austrian Grand Prix Winners (1970–2024)