The Red Bull Ring is the shortest lap of the year by time. Just over a minute and ten corners. A tenth is a lot here.
The lap has two halves and they want different things. This setup runs wings 4 and 5, a differential locked more than usual and a stiff front end. It is a time trial setup, saved with 10 kg of fuel.
F1 2019 Austria setup
| Setting | Front | Rear |
|---|---|---|
| Wing | 4 | 5 |
| Camber | -2.60 | -1.10 |
| Toe | 0.06 | 0.23 |
| Suspension | 5 | 4 |
| Anti-roll bar | 4 | 10 |
| Ride height | 4 | 5 |
| Tyre pressure | 23.8 psi | 21.5 psi |
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Fuel load | 10 kg |
| Differential on throttle | 70% |
| Differential off throttle | 70% |
| Brake pressure | 86% |
| Front brake bias | 56% |
In F1 2019 the wings, suspension, anti-roll bars and ride height all use a scale from 1 to 11.
This setup was collected for the site in 2022 from a fast time trial lap, like the rest of my F1 2019 setups. Use it as a base and adjust it with the table further down.
Why this setup works at the Red Bull Ring
The lap is 4.318 km with 10 corners. From the start line to turn 4 it is straight, brake, slow corner, three times, and mostly uphill. From turn 6 to the end it is fast and downhill, with corners that flow into each other.
The wings. 4 and 5. The first half wants low drag. The second half wants a front that turns. With only one click between front and rear, the balance moves forward and the car points into turn 6, turn 7 and the last two corners. A bigger gap would make the car safer and slower there.
The differential. 70% on throttle and 70% off. Only my Canada setup uses the same pair. Turn 1, turn 3 and turn 4 are all slow exits onto a straight, and the run from turn 1 to turn 3 is uphill. A more locked differential puts the power down through both rear wheels. Off throttle, 70% keeps the rear in line in the downhill stop for turn 4.
The brakes. 86% pressure and 56% front bias. 56% is the most forward bias in my list, together with Monza, Mexico and Austin. The stops for turn 1 and turn 3 are uphill, so the car wants to slow down anyway and the front tyres carry a lot of load. Turn 4 is the opposite. It is downhill, and that is where this bias will lock a front wheel if you are late.
The geometry and tyres. Camber -2.60 and -1.10, toe 0.06 and 0.23. One step away from the least angle the menu allows at each end. A little more camber helps in the long fast corners of the second half. Pressures are 23.8 and 21.5 psi.
A stiff front for the fast half
Front springs at 5, rear at 4. No other setup in my F1 2019 list runs the front this stiff. Most of them sit at 1 or 2.
The reason is the second half of the lap. Turn 6 into turn 7 and turn 9 into turn 10 are fast corners close together. A stiff front keeps the car flat and makes it answer the steering at once. The kerbs you use here are flat, so you do not pay much for it.
The anti-roll bars are 4 at the front and 10 at the rear. A soft front bar gives the front tyres grip on turn in. A stiff rear bar helps the car rotate in the middle of the corner.
Ride height is 4 and 5. Higher than you would expect for a fast track. The exit kerbs at turn 1 and the last corner are tall, and a time trial lap uses all of them.
What to change
One change at a time, three laps, then decide.
| Problem | Change | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Front tyres lock into turn 4 | Front brake bias 56% to 54% | Less work for the front tyres in the downhill stop |
| Wheelspin out of turn 3 | On throttle differential 70% to 60% | A more open differential is gentler on the inside rear tyre |
| The rear steps out in turn 9 | Rear wing 5 to 6 | More rear downforce in the fast corners |
| The rear snaps in turn 6 and turn 7 | Rear anti-roll bar 10 to 8 | A softer rear bar gives the rear more grip |
| Understeer in turn 3 | Off throttle differential 70% to 60% | Less lock off the throttle helps the car rotate |
| The car jumps on the exit kerbs | Front suspension 5 to 3 | A softer front takes the kerb better |
| Too slow on the straights | Ride height 4 and 5 to 3 and 4 | Less drag. Stay off the tall kerbs |
For a race
A lap is short, so there are a lot of them, and the rear tyres go through three hard traction zones every time. Before a 25% or 50% race I would change this:
- On throttle differential 70% to 60%. Less wheelspin and less heat in the rear tyres.
- Front brake bias 56% to 55%. With fuel on board the car is heavier in the downhill stop for turn 4.
- Rear wing 5 to 6. The rear is calmer in the fast corners when the tyres are worn.
- Fuel. The 10 kg is a time trial number. In a race the game sets the load for the distance.
On a pad, I would go to brake pressure around 82%, the on throttle differential at 60% and the rear anti-roll bar at 8.
F1 2019 has manual ERS modes. Spend the battery on the three straights in the first half of the lap, uphill, where the car needs it most. Save from turn 6 to the last corner. You pass into turn 3 and turn 4.
Where the lap time is at the Red Bull Ring
- Turn 1. A fast uphill right at the end of the pit straight. Brake later than you think and let the car run out to the exit kerb. Not past it. Track limits are strict here.
- Turn 3. The slowest corner, a tight right at the top of the hill. Brake in a straight line, turn late and point the car down the next straight before full throttle.
- Turn 4. A downhill stop into a right hander. The car is light on the way in. Brake a little earlier than feels right and take a late apex.
- Turn 6 and turn 7. Two fast lefts. Turn in early, be patient in the middle and do not add steering when the front starts to slide.
- Turn 8. A fast right. Flat or very close to it.
- Turn 9 and turn 10. Two fast downhill rights. You do not see much of turn 9 before you turn in. A small lift, turn in, and use the exit kerb but nothing beyond it.
If you take one thing from this page: the three exits in the first half decide the lap. Each one is followed by a straight, and the lap is so short that a bad exit is a tenth you will not find again.
Austria in 2019
The 2019 Austrian Grand Prix was round 9 of 21, on 30 June, over 71 laps. Charles Leclerc took pole position in 1:03.003.
Max Verstappen started second, had a problem with the anti-stall at the start and was eighth by turn 2. He came back through the field, passed Sebastian Vettel on lap 50 and Valtteri Bottas on lap 56, and took the lead from Leclerc at turn 2 with three laps to go. It was the first win for a Honda powered car since the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix, and the first race of 2019 not won by Mercedes. Leclerc finished second and Bottas third. Verstappen also set the fastest lap, a 1:07.475 on lap 60.
More F1 2019 setups
All the tracks are on the F1 2019 setups page. Austria is round 9. The round before it is the F1 2019 France setup and the next one is the F1 2019 Silverstone setup.
For the same track in other games, here are my F1 2018 Austria setup, my F1 2020 Austria setup and my F1 25 Austria setup. The values do not carry over from one game to the next.
FAQ
What is the best F1 2019 setup for Austria?
Front wing 4, rear wing 5, differential 70% on throttle and 70% off, suspension 5 and 4, anti-roll bars 4 and 10, ride height 4 and 5, brake pressure 86% with 56% front bias, and tyres at 23.8 and 21.5 psi.
What wing levels should I run at the Red Bull Ring in F1 2019?
4 at the front and 5 at the rear for time trial. For a race I would run 6 at the rear to keep the car calm on worn tyres.
Can I use this Austria setup in a race?
Yes, with small changes. Open the on throttle differential to 60%, move the brake bias back to 55% and add one click of rear wing.
Does this setup work with a controller?
Yes. I would lower the brake pressure to around 82%, open the on throttle differential to 60% and soften the rear anti-roll bar to 8.
Why is the front suspension so stiff in this setup?
For the fast corners in the second half of the lap. A stiff front keeps the car flat and quick to answer in turn 6, turn 7, turn 9 and turn 10.
Where can I overtake at the Red Bull Ring in F1 2019?
Into turn 3 and turn 4, both at the end of a straight with DRS. Turn 1 is the third option.
How long is the Red Bull Ring in F1 2019?
4.318 km with 10 corners. The real race is 71 laps.