The track has risen from the ashes of the old Osterreichring, but drastically shortened and modified. The steep climb to the first corner is not as long as it used to be. Then, after it peels off to the right comes a straight that joins the old track with an abrupt hairpin with a steep climb. Other major changes were made to the two left handers which lead to the Texaco Schikane. The final corner, a double apex, is now a dogleg, to allow for a decent run-off area on the outside. It’s a very short track, just 4.318 kilometres in length and requires plenty of power and traction. Ferrari has won five times in Austria: Lorenzo Bandini won on the L-shaped Zeltweg circuit in 1964, Jacky Ickx did it at the old Osterreichring, while the first to win on the new track was Eddie Irvine in 1999. Michael Schumacher was victorious in 2002 and 2003.

This corner is particularly demanding with an uphill braking point. It was here in 1999 that team-mates Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard collided, leaving the way clear for Eddie Irvine to win for Ferrari.