The Red Bull Ring hosts the seventh round of the FIA Formula 2 season with Boschung and Maini ready to fight back and put themselves in podium contention
Campos Racing will contest the seventh round of the 2023 FIA Formula 2 Championship season in Spielberg, the small city in the heart of the Styrian Mountains. The original circuit was built in 1969 to replace Zeltweg and was named Österreichring, hosting the F1 Grand Prix between 1970 and 1987. After being completely rebuilt in 1996, which shortened its length, it was back on the Formula 1 calendar that year. After 2004, the A1-Ring entered another dark period before Red Bull bought the complex and regained its F1 status in 2014.
The Spanish-based racing team will enter its two Dallara F2 cars for Swiss driver Ralph Boschung and Indian Kush Maini. They will be pushing for a strong weekend in terms of pace after experiencing a tough weekend in Barcelona in early June. Neither Boschung nor Maini could make it into the points, the first time of the season to happen. July is an extremely weekend for the team as four rounds will take place during the month. Apart from Red Bull Ring, other three rounds at Silverstone, Hungaroring and Spa-Francorchamps will arrive in quick succession.
Maini sits 8th in the standings on 49 points and the Indian is becoming one of the strongest rookie contenders in the field. He tasted his first podium in the series in Australia and scored points in all but a single event so far. Boschung has restlessly worked in the recent weeks to arrive in strong form at the Red Bull Ring and repeat early success in the season. Campos Racing has enjoyed pretty competitive weekends in Spielberg with plenty of wins and podiums. Last year, Roberto Merhi claimed a podium finish driving the Boschung’s Dallara when the Swiss driver pulled out for several races due to his persistent neck issues. The Spanish racing team is sixth in the standings on 82 points.
The short 4.3-kilometer and 10-corner lap means is always difficult to complete a clean lap in qualifying. Traditionally, the Red Bull Ring features action-packed racing and intense lights-to-flag battles. Besides, due to its clockwise running most of the corners are right-handers but paradoxically the two most demanding ones are left-handers. Traction and braking are two areas in which cars must excel to be competitive.
Both free practice and qualifying sessions will take place on Friday at 11:05 and 15:55 respectively. Saturday’s Sprint race is scheduled at 13:45 with Sunday’s Feature race taking place at 09:55. All times are CET.
Adrián Campos (Campos Racing Team Principal): “We have put a huge effort as a team ahead of Spielberg. July is a busy month with four events and almost no time to work between weekends. After a difficult weekend at our home weekend in Barcelona, we feel confident to be back in the hunt for more rostrums. Traditionally, we have always been competitive on this circuit, and our goal is to continue that path in 2023.”
Ralph Boschung (Campos Racing Driver of FIA Formula 2): “It is a quite long time I haven’t been in Austria. I’m looking forward to starting the second half of the season. It’s a nice track and I have fond memories there. I achieved my first victory in GP3 in Spielberg in rainy conditions. That’s the target again. It’s a very challenging period of the season with four races in five weeks. Hopefully we can be competitive and consistent.”
Kush Maini (Campos Racing Driver of FIA Formula 2): “Finally after a short break we are back on track, Red Bull Ring is a beautiful track with great scenery but also a very fun place to drive and also race. Coming from a tough round in Barcelona the team and I are super motivated to get back on track!”
