2020 Austrian Grand Prix: all you need to know, how to watch in the UAE and the rest of the F1 calendar

The Red Bull Ring at Spielberg will host the first two races of the new season

Red Bull's Dutch driver Max Verstappen on his way to winning the 2019 Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring. AFP

The abridged 2020 Formula One season gets underway this weekend with the Austrian Grand Prix.

Following the cancellation of several races due to the coronavirus pandemic, this season's championship will be reduced to 13 races.

The Red Bull Ring will host the first two races, with the Styrian GP taking place on July 10-12.

Here's all you need to know about this weekend's race and the rest of the 2020 F1 season.

When is the 2020 Austrian Grand Prix?

The first grand prix of the season takes place from July 3-5.

What are the timings for the 2020 Austrian Grand Prix?

The start times for the Austrian Grand Prix are as follows. All times are UAE:

Practice 1: Friday, July 3, 1pm

Practice 2: Friday, July 3, 6pm

Practice 3: Saturday, July 4, 2pm

Qualifying: Saturday, July 4, 5pm

Race: Sunday, July 5, 5.10pm

Where does the 2020 Austrian Grand Prix take place?

The Red Bull Ring is located in Spielberg in the Bezirk Murtal in Styria. The 4.236km track comprises just nine corners, seven to the right and two to the left, and is dominated by three straights. Simply put it is a low-downforce, engine-dependent track.

Sunday’s race will be run over 71 laps and will take place in front of no fans.

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Ranked: the 20 drivers on the F1 grid

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  ON THE GRID FOR 2020 SEASON: Nicholas Latifi (CAN) - Williams. Car: 6; age: 24; starts: 0. The Canadian rookie is partnered with George Russell after Robert Kubica was dropped just one season into his comeback year. AFP

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  George Russell (GBR) - Williams. Car: 63; age: 22; starts: 21; wins: 0. Surely it cannot get any worse for Williams? Despite being able to boast 16 combined drivers' and team titles, the British team finished rooted to the foot of the championship last year after scoring just one point. Reuters

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  Kevin Magnussen (DEN) - Haas. Car: 20; age: 27; starts: 102; wins: 0. Having previously established themselves as solid midfield runners, the American team will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2019 campaign where they finished ninth. AFP

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  Romain Grosjean (FRA) - Haas. Car: 8; age: 33; starts: 164; wins: 0. Grosjean will be joined once more by Magnussen - their fourth year together as teammates. Reuters

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  Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA) - Alfa Romeo. Car: 99; age: 26; starts: 23; wins: 0. Italian Giovinazzi has been retained by Alfa Romeo for a second season. EPA

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  Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) - Alfa Romeo. Car: 7; age: 40; starts: 312; wins: 21; championships: 1 (2007). Former world champion Raikkonen will this year become the most-capped F1 driver. The veteran Finn is just 10 races shy of Rubens Barrichello's record of 322 starts. EPA

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  Lance Stroll (CAN) - Racing Point. Car: 18; age: 21; starts: 62; wins: 0. Canadian Stroll starts his second campaign at Racing Point. EPA

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  Sergio Perez (MEX) - Racing Point. Car: 11; age: 30; starts: 176; wins: 0. Following a rather underwhelming campaign, Racing Point proved to be one of the major talking points at testing after their new car resembled a carbon-copy of last year's title-winning Mercedes. Mexican driver Perez has been with the team since 2014. Reuters

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  Daniil Kvyat (RUS) - Alphatauri. Car: 26; age: 25; starts: 93; wins: 0. The Russian was retained for a second straight year of his yo-yo career. EPA

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  Pierre Gasly (FRA) - Alphatauri. Car: 10; age: 24; starts: 47; wins: 0. A new season and a new name for Red Bull's junior team with Toro Rosso re-branded as AlphaTauri for the forthcoming campaign. Gasly, dropped by Red Bull midway through last season, drives alongside Kvyat. EPA

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  Esteban Ocon (FRA) - Renault. Car: 31; age: 23; starts: 50; wins: 0. Ocon spent last season on the sidelines after losing his seat to Lance Stroll at Racing Point. Reuters

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  Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) - Renault. Car: 3; age: 30; starts: 171; wins: 7. Ricciardo is joined by Ocon as Renault bid to bounce back from a disappointing 2019. EPA

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  Lando Norris (GBR) - McLaren. Car: 4; age: 20; starts : 21; wins: 0. After an impressive rookie campaign, British driver Norris is set for his second season in F1. AFP

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  Carlos Sainz (ESP) - McLaren. Car: 55; age: 25; starts: 102; wins: 0. McLaren emerged from the doldrums last season with their best performance in years as they finished fourth in the constructors' table. Sainz also scored McLaren's first podium since 2012 when he was promoted to third in Brazil. EPA

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  Alexander Albon (THA) - Red Bull. Car: 23; age: 23; starts: 21; wins: 0. London-born Albon is set for just his second season in F1 and his first full campaign as a Red Bull driver after he was promoted from Toro Rosso following last year's summer break. EPA

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  Max Verstappen (NED) - Red Bull. Car: 33; age: 22; starts: 102; wins: 7. Verstappen was one of the stars of last year after he finished third in the championship behind Lewis Hamilton and Bottas. Verstappen, 22, could prove Hamilton's closest challenger if Red Bull can build on a package which fired the Dutchman to three victories last season. Reuters

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  Charles Leclerc (MON) - Ferrari. Car: 16; age: 22; starts: 42; wins: 2. Last year, Leclerc finished ahead of Vettel in the championship, scoring a greater number of pole positions and victories than his four-time world championship-winning teammate. Reuters

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  Sebastian Vettel (GER) - Ferrari. Car: 5; age: 32; starts: 240; wins: 53; championships: 4 (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013). Vettel and Leclerc will lock horns for a second season in what is the sport's fiercest team rivalry. Their combustible relationship spilled over in Brazil when they collided, forcing both drivers out of the race. Ferrari have not celebrated a drivers' champion since 2007, and after a mixed pre-season campaign, the Italian team fear they will start this year on the back foot. EPA

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  Valtteri Bottas (FIN) - Mercedes. Car: 77; age: 30; starts: 139; wins: 7. Bottas partners world champion Lewis Hamilton for a fourth straight season. Reuters

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  Lewis Hamilton (GBR) - Mercedes. Car: 44; age: 35; starts: 250; wins: 84; championships: 6 (2008, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019). Mercedes have been the dominant team in Formula One since 2014, winning a record six consecutive drivers' and constructors' championships. Hamilton has been the driving force behind their success and the British driver will start the new campaign as the favourite to win his sixth world championship in seven years to equal Michael Schumacher's overall record. Reuters

Past winners of the Austrian Grand Prix

Since the race returned to the F1 calendar in 2014, the winners are as follows:

2019: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
2018: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
2017: Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)
2016: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2015: Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
2014: Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)

Track Lap Record: 1:08.337 Michael Schumacher (Ferrari, 2003)

How can I watch the 2020 Austrian Grand Prix in the UAE?

The race will be shown on MBC, the free-to-air television channel.

The Dubai-based group acquired the rights to broadcast the F1 races in the Middle East and North Africa region last year.

2020 Formula One calendar

Austrian Grand Prix: July 3-5

Styrian Grand Prix: July 10-12

Hungarian Grand Prix: July 17-19

British Grand Prix: July 31-August 2

Formula 1 70th Anniversary Grand Prix: August 7-9

Spanish Grand Prix: August 14-16

Belgian Grand Prix: August 28-30

Italian Grand Prix: September 4-6

Russian Grand Prix: September 25-27

United States Grand Prix: October 23-25

Mexican Grand Prix: October 30-November 1

Brazilian Grand Prix: November 13-15

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: November 27-29

History chaser

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton heads into the new F1 season with history on his mind.

The Briton, 35, can equal German legend Michael Schumacher's record of seven drivers' titles if he is crowned champion at the season finale in Abu Dhabi on November 29.