The Red Bull Ring have announced that work has now been completed on a new chicane complex, designed by Hermann Tilke, that will give the Austrian venue a new look for 2022. The updated chicane between Turn 2 and Turn 3 will not be used for Formula 1, and has been designed strictly for motorcycle use to help slow the bikes as they approach the heavy braking zone of Turn 4. F1 cars will, however, blast through the section at full speed, making use of the newly resurfaced asphalt on an almost-unchanged layout. The alterations to the circuit come following a terrifying close-call that saw Franco Morbidelli and Johann Zarco crash during MotoGP's 2020 event, with their bikes almost collecting Valentino Rossi and Maverick Vinales in the process.
F1 layout to remain unchanged
The rebuilding work, completed in close co-operation with the FIA, began back in November with the desire of adding a new layout option to the circuit. Over 15 drafts of the chicane's design were made before the final layout was decided upon. The chicane features two 90 degree turns and fresh escape roads, surrounded by gravel traps, allowing new exit routes for drivers and riders who hit difficulty following Turn 1. The changes, although unused in F1, will be clear to see during the Austrian Grand Prix weekend of 8-10 July, and will be used by MotoGP for the Motorcycle Grand Prix of Austria in August.
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