Mad Max, Sir Lewis, PCR tests and 15,000 spectators in Spielberg

By Adrian R. Huber

Spielberg, Austria, Jun 24 (EFE).- The Austrian Red Bull Ring will stage another heated contest between Max Verstappen, currently in first position, and the seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, in second place lagging 12 points behind.

Red Bull’s Verstappen will race at home this weekend as Spielberg prepares to receive up to 15,000 spectators for the Styrian Grand Prix, still hindered by sanitary control measures and a heat wave hitting the region.

Due to the cancellation of both Canada and later of its replacement Turkish circuit, Austria will host two races, this weekend and the next one, in the track owned by the Red Bull Team, which is leading world championships in team and individual pilot rankings.

Last week in the French GP, Verstappen, sometimes called ‘Mad Max’ by virtue of his bold driving style, finished ahead of his biggest rival, Mercedes’ Hamilton, who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II last year after winning his seventh Formula One World Championship and equalling Michael Schumacher’s historical title-holding record.

The Styrian Grand Prix will allow 15,000 spectators inside the Red Bull Ring throughout the weekend. For the Austrian Grand Prix, held in the same circuit the following week, the seats will be open for full-capacity attendance.

All staff and spectators will still need to present negative Covid-19 PCR test results, taken no earlier than 5 days prior to the event.

The weather forecast has announced that storms will dampen the circuit, as Hamilton attempts to save his bid to a record-breaking eighth title.

Staff will offer attendees rain jackets as a welcoming present, but if it gets too cold during the contest, they can always go for a ‘Leberknödelsuppe,’ a traditional liver paste soup. EFE

arh/lv/mp