Bizarre F1 episodes in Austria: Five GPs that took an unexpected turn

The Austrian Grand Prix has been the backdrop for some of Formula 1’s most unusual moments, from penalty bonanzas and unexpected animal encounters to controversial team orders and even post-victory crashes.

Here’s a look back at some of the most remarkable and headline-making episodes from Austria’s unpredictable F1 history.

1975 – Brambilla wins, then crashes after finish

Vittorio Brambilla‘s finest hour after winning the rain-hit Austrian Grand Prix lasted about five seconds in 1975.

In treacherous conditions at the old Österreichring, the Italian seized the opportunity when the heavens opened and chaos reigned.

Driving the distinctive orange March 751, Brambilla had climbed the order, and when the race was red-flagged after 29 of the scheduled 54 laps, he found himself leading — and thus was declared the winner, although he scored half points.

But celebrations were short-lived. No sooner had Brambilla seen the chequered flag than he lost control of his car, aquaplaning into the barriers on the pit straight.

Brambilla still managed to complete his cool-down lap waving at the crowd, celebrating what would be his one and only victory.

1984 – ‘Lazy’ Lauda runs out of gears, but still wins

Despite losing nearly all of his gears due to a failing transmission, Niki Lauda took another unconventional victory at Österreichring in 1984.

Lauda was driving his McLaren-TAG Porsche and leading the race when, 15 laps from the end, his gearbox failed.

The Austrian raised his hand as his car slowed, but didn’t like the idea of the long walk back to the pits. He tried to engage any gear in the hope that he could coast back and retire, and found that fifth gear was still working, so made for the pits.

Half a lap on, and having discovered that third gear would also engage, Lauda decided to continue to the flag using just the two available ratios.

He nursed the wounded car to the flag, somehow staying ahead of Nelson Piquet, who hounded him all the way.

“I kept on going because I was too lazy to walk to the pits,” recalled Lauda later.

2001 – Oh deer

These days, F1 radio often delivers comedy — but Juan Pablo Montoya’s deadpan reaction to a deer sighting during the 2001 Austrian Grand Prix remains one of the best audio clips of recent times.

During final practice, Montoya’s Williams engineer asked the Colombian to carefully return to the pits after the deer had jumped onto the track.

Thankfully, the deer stayed off the racing line and quickly jumped the barriers, leaving the premises.

But the exchange between Montoya and his engineer lives on as one of F1’s all-time great radio clips.

Engineer: Juan, in this lap, in this lap, please. We’ve seen a deer on the c… We believe it’s somewhere on the circuit, so just come in cautiously, please.

Montoya: Oh deer…

Engineer: Yeah, a deer. Like a horse with horns.

Montoya: I know, I know.

Engineer: Oh deer.

Montoya: Ha ha ha ha ha.

2002 – Ferrari team orders debacle

The 2002 Austrian Grand Prix is remembered less as a race and more as a PR disaster for Ferrari, whose blatant display of team orders left fans furious.

During the race, Rubens Barrichello was leading comfortably, having outperformed his team-mate Michael Schumacher all weekend, but as the final laps approached, Ferrari issued explicit instructions to Barrichello to let Schumacher pass and take the victory.

“Let Michael pass for the championship,” came the order from Jean Todt.

Barrichello stayed in the lead for several laps before finally complying, slowing down dramatically just before the finish line to allow Schumacher through, resulting in an awkward and painfully obvious manipulation of the race result.

Then came a rather surreal podium celebration as Schumacher, trying to deflect criticism, dragged Barrichello onto the top step.

The backlash was immediate and fierce, and the episode remains ones of the most bizarre and controversial finishes to a race since.

2023: Track limits meltdown

The 2023 Austrian GP result was effectively decided not by what happened on track, but by what happened just outside it.

The Red Bull Ring’s high-speed layout and painted kerbs triggered a track limits meltdown of historic proportions.

Throughout the 71-lap race, drivers exceeded the white lines marking the edge of the track more than 1200 times, overwhelming race control and the stewards.

Just two drivers — Fernando Alonso and George Russell — managed to avoid any violations. Every other driver received at least a warning or penalty.

The situation spiralled after Aston Martin lodged a protest post-race, forcing the FIA to review many incidents and leading to 12 additional penalties being issued hours after the finish.

Esteban Ocon received penalties totalling 30 secondsBiza, and the final results were not confirmed until five hours after the chequered flag.