Spielberg Speed Trap: Who is the fastest of them all?

There are large demands placed on a car's handling at the Red Bull Ring, whilst at the same time the circuit demands good mechanical grip at low speed and strong performance at high speed.

Teams therefore strive to strike the right balance between minimizing drag for higher straight-line speeds and maximizing downforce to enhance cornering performance at the track.

Spielberg's lush and mountainous altitude – set at 670 m – also impacts the medium-to-high downforce levels that teams typically run at the circuit, while it also makes it tough on power units and on a car's brakes.

But overall, strong straight-line speed is the perfect complement to a good set-up to allow a driver to make progress through the field on race day.

There is no disputing that Red Bull's RB19 has both qualities in abundance, as Max Verstappen's pole position on Friday and his top speed in the session clearly indicated, leaving little doubt as to the outcome of Sunday's Austrian Grand Prix.

But then again, it's not over until the checkered flag is waved.

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