Vettel, Lauda & Marko on the Red Bull Ring

The Red Bull Ring is officially open in Spielberg, Austria and it has already tempted motor racing stars Sebastian Vettel and Niki Lauda to check it out, with the help of Helmut Marko. Here's what they had to say about the Ring...

Sebastian Vettel – Formula 1 World Champion
I was 14-years-old the first time I was at Spielberg for a Formula König race and I watched the drivers there with great enthusiasm, including the Austrian, Bernhard Auinger. At that time I was very new to the Red Bull family. A lot of time has passed since then and it has changed a lot. I like the new track very much, as the core of the circuit remains the same. The downhill sections with the curves, which are still hanging to the outside, are very tricky, especially because today the track was wet. It would be very nice to drive a race here and I would be very happy if Formula 1 should return to the Red Bull Ring – preferably during my career! ;)

Niki Lauda – Three times Formula 1 World Champion
I first raced in Spielberg in 1971 and in 1984 and celebrated a home victory in the Austrian F1 Grand Prix. Today I went back and competed in the legend's race again, winning narrowly from Dieter Quester. It's really impressive what's happened here. I am very happy that the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg has been revived – it's a huge asset to the racing scene in Austria. The basic route is the same, but the whole course is in perfect condition and has similar modern facilities to those in Bahrain.

Helmut Marko – Red Bull Motorsport
What has been rebuilt, is truly unique. Not just the ring itself, but the entire project in Spielberg. The area is harmoniously integrated into the landscape. Not only motor sports fans, but families can spend an entire weekend there. The mood among the surrounding population is very good, everybody is happy that the area here has been revived.

Souce: Red Bull

Red Bull not ruling out bid for Hamilton

Helmut Marko is not ruling out making a move for Lewis Hamilton, perhaps as imminently as in time for the 2012 season.

After a recent round of speculation, during which Red Bull team boss Christian Horner described Hamilton as a “great driver”, the 2008 world champion insisted he is committed to McLaren.

But Hamilton also said in Australia: “Of course, I’m going to be in formula one for some time, and you never know which way the wind will take you.

” At Red Bull, Sebastian Vettel’s future is firmly secure, but his current teammate Mark Webber – who had a dire start to the 2011 season in Melbourne – is signed up only to the end of the year.

“First we have to see how the season goes for Mark and what he decides,” Red Bull’s F1 consultant Marko told Sport Bild.

“Definitely with his aggression and his speed, Hamilton must always be a topic,” the Austrian added.

“Our philosophy is to have the quickest drivers together in our team,” said Marko.

F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone said he would be happy to see Vettel and Hamilton together at Red Bull.

“Both of them are a gift for formula one, even more if they were in the same team,” he said.

Source: YallaF1

Helmut Marko says Renault and Mercedes trailing

Helmut Marko has backed paddock sentiment that Red Bull and Ferrari are heading into the 2011 season as the early favourites for the title.

“Red Bull and Ferrari are at eye-level,” the energy drink-owned team’s driver consultant told Austrian newspaper Kleine Zeitung.

“And McLaren has the potential to catch up before the start of the season,” added Marko.

Another potential frontrunner is Renault, after Robert Kubica and then his replacement Nick Heidfeld so impressed at recent Spanish tests.

“Renault are showing they are a lot more competitive than they were last year,” Fernando Alonso said in a television interview, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

German Heidfeld, however, is not quite as confident.

“My guess is that there are still some teams ahead of us — especially Red Bull,” he is quoted by F1′s official website on Wednesday.

Red Bull’s Marko agrees: “Mercedes and Renault are not quite at the level of the top three.”

Source: YallaF1

Vettel ’stupid’ to make Ferrari switch now - Marko

Sebastian Vettel would be "stupid" to switch to Ferrari if he knows Red Bull can supply a quicker car.

That is the view of Helmut Marko, the energy drink company Red Bull’s motor racing right-hand man for team owner Dietrich Mateschitz.

Austrian Marko, 67, is known to be close to fellow German speaker and new world champion Vettel, but the 23-year-old has recently been musing about a future switch to Ferrari.

"It’s only natural for a race driver to dream of Ferrari, and for Ferrari to want a great driver like Sebastian," he told Bild newspaper.

But Marko is not worried that Vettel will make the switch any time soon.

"Sebastian won’t leave us just because of the Ferrari legend," he insisted. "He is smart enough to know that the time would have to be right for him.

"He would have to be stupid to go there with Fernando Alonso.

"We are the world championship team, and as long as we offer Sebastian a package that is better than the others, he’s not going to leave just because of a mythical history," added Marko.

Source: Nextgen

Red Bull admits to ’building team around Vettel’

"Mark is in the autumn of his career"

Red Bull has pledged driver equality for the 2010 title fight, whilst openly admitting that Sebastian Vettel is regarded as the man of the future.

"The main thing now is that we become world champions," said Helmut Marko, who was accused earlier this year of wanting Vettel to beat Australian Webber to the top spot.

But with Webber 14 points clear, and Vettel level-pegging with Ferrari’s chasing Fernando Alonso, the Austrian-owned team must give the 34-year-old an unimpeded run to the chequered flag.

For the future, however, Red Bull’s ambitions are well known.

"I repeat: we are building the team around Sebastian," team boss Christian Horner is quoted by Auto Bild.

"Sebastian has a long career ahead of him and hopefully he will spend it with us," said the Briton. "Mark is in the autumn of his career.

"He wants to retire while he’s at the top, not when he’s past his peak like some other drivers," added Horner.

1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, however, thinks Red Bull are making a mistake by giving 23-year-old Vettel so much cover.

"Just look at the differing seasons Mark and Sebastian have had," the French Canadian is quoted by the Telegraph.

"Vettel has shown he has an impetuous streak but if he makes a mistake and the team don’t tell him it was his fault, he won’t learn.

"It’s Red Bull’s fault for spoiling him," insisted Villeneuve.

Source: Nextgen

Interview with Helmut Marko from MTV3

Red Bull was interested in hiring Räikkönen when it was clear that he wouldn't continue with Ferrari. The negotiations fell apart when it became obvious that Räikkönen wants to go rallying. Now Helmut Marko admits that Kimi's results in rally have been a disappointment to the sponsor

Oskari Saari:
Helmut Marko is a man who's words weigh a lot. They claim that Marko practically dictates which drivers drive in Red Bull's F1-team. Marko is also a very straightforward man. Red Bull is considering withdrawing from Räikkönen's rally-project. The reason is also clear:

Helmut Marko:
Kimi has had a few crashes and if you have crashes you don't bring results and therefore the output or the PR wasn't as good as we expected.

Oskari Saari:
So you were hoping for better results already?

Helmut Marko:
Yes. Sometimes he had best sector times or best stage time but as you mentioned before, it's difficult to read Red Bull upside down. We were in contact with him and he made quite clear that he wants to go to rally at the moment and we accepted that and we made a deal and as you know he did this season in rally-cars and now we have to see what happens in the future.

For the next season all our seats are gone and therefore we can't discuss anything.

Source: MTV3
Courtesy: Nicole

Still no number 1 status for Webber at Red Bull

With only four races to run after Sunday's Singapore Grand Prix, Red Bull appears no closer to making championship leader Mark Webber its number 1 bet for the world championship.

The Australian, 24 points ahead of Sebastian Vettel, has struggled relative to his front row-sitting teammate in Singapore, qualifying three paces behind the sister RB6.

"We have two drivers competing for the world championship and we will continue supporting them until for one of them it is not mathematically and practically possible for them to win the championship," team boss Christian Horner said in Singapore.

But Webber, 34, answered "yes" after a long pause when asked by British television BBC if he would accept preferred status for the balance of the season.

"For me it's an unique opportunity that I might never get again," he also said in an interview with Salzburger Nachrichten newspaper.

"But I can't yet say 'Hey Seb, let me have this opportunity because you might have the chance for another ten years or more'," added Webber.

At the same time, he concedes that - despite some earlier ructions within the Austrian camp - Red Bull would be happy if he wins the title.

"It was rumoured that Helmut (Marko) would prefer Vettel, because they might have a closer relationship. But he would be very happy if I won the world championship today," the Australian insisted.

"If we did it, everyone would have a headache from the party, no matter which of us is champion. The team situation is completely neutral," added Webber.

He also played down rumours he is disaffected at Red Bull, revealing that when he decides to stop driving, he will probably continue to work with the energy drinks company.

"What Red Bull did when I broke my leg was impressive and I'll never forget it," he said.

"They backed me when I was totally in the shit. Yes, maybe we can continue to do something together," added Webber, who is under contract only until the end of 2011.

Source: Motorsport

Webber's conspiracy theory 'on wrong track' - Marko

Dr Helmut Marko has rubbished Mark Webber's intimation that his teammate is being favoured by Red Bull management.

Although Australian Webber's statement on Thursday suggested the air has been cleared after Silverstone, team consultant Marko has weighed into the front wing saga.

"If Mark imagines there is a conspiracy between us and (Sebastian) Vettel against him, then he is on the wrong track," the Austrian and former Grand Prix driver is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport.

"If I was Vettel, then I would suspect the opposite. Which car has constantly had problems? Did Mark have a defective spark plug, a loose wheel, a broken brake, a defective chassis, a gearbox problem and the broken nose?

"In comparison, Webber has come out with only a black eye.

"Mark is having a great season, and he has improved big team, but he should not forget that he owes a lot to this team. Where was he two years ago? He could not even dream of Grand Prix wins," said Marko.

"For us, it really does not matter who is champion, the main thing is that he is sitting in a Red Bull."

Earlier, Marko defended the decision to give Vettel the newer specification wing that in the pre-qualifying practice session had been fitted to Webber's car.

"I don't know what Webber wants," he is quoted by Auto Bild.

"The driver who got the new wing was ahead in the championship and faster in the third timed practice. It was a very logical decision," added Marko.

Source: Motorsport.com

Red Bull to stay with Renault, eyes 2011 KERS deal

Red Bull will "probably" remain with Renault engine power into the 2011 season, team consultant Helmut Marko has revealed.

Team principal Christian Horner said earlier this month that while "happy" with the French supplier, "the engine has maybe 20 or 30 horse power less" than the leading Mercedes unit.

But Mercedes figures including Norbert Haug and Ross Brawn said subsequently that the German marque should not expand beyond supplying Mercedes GP, McLaren and Force India next year.

"As according to statements we apparently cannot have the Mercedes engine, we will probably stay with Renault," Austrian Marko is quoted by the German magazine Sport Bild.

And with the return in 2011 of energy recovery technology KERS, it is even possible that the relationship between Red Bull and Renault will expand.

"We will either use Renault's system, or we will buy it from their supplier Magneti Marelli and adapt it ourselves," said Marko.

Source: Motorsport

Marko perpetuates the blame game

In what is quickly becoming both a racing and public relations disaster for Red Bull, advisor Helmut Marko has once again insinuated that Mark Webber was responsible for the collision with Sebastian Vettel.

The team threw away a likely 1-2 finish in Turkey when Webber and Vettel collided on lap 41 after Vettel appeared to turn into his team-mate as he looked to take the lead.

At the time Vettel had more speed than his team-mate, but making such dangerous move when it was not necessary has seen the German come under heavy criticism from many, but importantly not form his team who have suggested that Webber - who remained on the driving line - was at fault.

When asked by the official Formula One website whether he felt one driver was at fault, Marko replied with a definite 'Yes', adding that Vettel "had no other choice than to act the way he did".

Speaking to Speed TV, Marko once again underlined his support for Vettel, lamenting the German's failure to finish while failing to acknowledge that Webber lost the opportunity to score his third consecutive win.

"Mark for whatever reason was slower," said Marko.

"He was getting lap by lap slower, and Vettel was getting faster and was coming under enormous pressure from Hamilton. So if he would have stayed behind Mark, he would have been overtaken. He had to do something. And Mark knew that he was slower, so he should have let him past.

"It's unbelievable how unlucky Vettel is," he bewailed.

"He showed so much speed, and if you have all these incidents it's unbelievable how strong his morale and commitment still is. To make points in this new points system is the most important thing. And now Vettel has two zeroes," he added.

Source: Planet F1

Red Bull to have Milton-Keynes crisis meeting

A crisis meeting will be held in the next few days at Red Bull's Milton Keynes headquarters, in a bid to ease the ill-feeling in the wake of the Sebastian Vettel-Mark Webber shunt.

"The goal is to win the world championship with the fastest driver. Above any individual interest must be the general interest, and that is the success of the team," team advisor Helmut Marko said on Austrian television Sport und Talk aus dem Hangar-7.

"The two drivers do not need to go out for dinner with each other, but they must cooperate," he insisted.

Marko maintains that, prior to the contact whilst leading the Turkish grand prix, Webber's race engineer Ciaron Pilbeam should have passed on the team's instruction that Vettel was not yet in a fuel-saving mode because he had an extra lap of fuel.

"Why (he did not pass on the information) is still not entirely clear," said Marko. "This engineer simply had a blackout; he did not respond properly."

He insists the turning down of Webber's engine did not amount to a team order.

"The message to Webber should have been 'You're too slow. At this rate, Hamilton is going to be straight past you. If Vettel is faster, don't fight against him, concentrate on Hamilton'.

"That is not a team order," Marko said.

Source: F1 Complete

Q&A with Red Bull’s Helmut Marko: We are not amused

As Red Bull’s motorsport consultant, Dr Helmut Marko is the perfect person to ask about the incident between the team’s drivers Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber during the Turkish Grand Prix. Watching the duo go wheel-to-wheel and then lose an almost guaranteed one-two by ending up colliding was not the ideal end to the Istanbul Park weekend. And Marko and the rest of the team are keen to have a serious word with both drivers to ensure it never happens again…

Q: Helmut, how disappointed do you feel to have let victory slip from your grasp?
Helmut Marko: A sure-fire one-two to be exact! It leaves you speechless.

Q: Do you regret there are no team orders anymore?
HM: Well, we thought that we had two responsible drivers who wouldn’t get into such a situation in the first place.

Q: Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said he didn’t believe it was Vettel’s fault. Is this the official opinion of the team?
HM: Well, in the situation Sebastian was in, he had no other choice than to act the way he did.

Q: How will the team respond?
HM: We will carefully analyse the situation and sit down with all involved to have a serious word about what happened and how to handle situations like that in the future.

Q: Will you change something in the future to avoid such an incident happening again?
HM: Well, first of all we always told them that it is a strict no-go to go to the wall with each other. Whatever happens they always have to give room to the other. I hope that all the people involved will think a bit more in the future before acting.

Q: That suggests that one of the two should have given way to the other…
HM: Yes.

Q: And you will discuss with them who that should have been …
HM: Yes.

Q: Is it true that the team gave instructions to Mark Webber’s race engineer to let Sebastian Vettel pass because otherwise Lewis (Hamilton)would be able to overtake?
HM: That is not correct, because that would mean a team order. We informed Mark about the situation and it is for the driver to decide. The fact is that if Sebastian hadn’t passed he would have been overtaken by Hamilton.

Q: Why was Sebastian so much quicker than Mark so suddenly?
HM: I think it was in the tyres.

Q: Have you received a phone call from Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz?
HM: Yes. What does the Queen say? We are not amused? That’s what he said…that he was not amused!

Q: At the next race, if you have a one-two, how will you tell the drivers to behave?
HM: Montreal is a track that is probably not the best for our car, and if it is, we will surely make the right decisions.

Source: Formula1.com

Red Bull only fears Alonso and Hamilton - Marko

In one fell swoop, Dr Helmut Marko has dismissed the title threat posed by figures including reigning champion Jenson Button, the 2008 runner-up Felipe Massa, Mercedes' works team, and seven time world champion Michael Schumacher.

Red Bull's motor racing adviser told APA news agency that the energy drink owned team only fears the challenges of Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton.

"There are two people that we fear for this world title," said Marko. "They are Fernando Alonso, because he is at his absolute peak, and Lewis Hamilton.

"What the others are doing bothers us not so much," revealed the Austrian.

Red Bull's RB6 car has been clearly the fastest among F1's class of 2010, so Marko thinks the Milton Keynes based team is rightly the championship favourite.

"With the package that we have, we clearly have to be going for the championship -- and in the coming years.

"We have the people we need and the necessary tools to adapt to changes. We have had a winning car also in 2008 and 2009, so you can't say that it's a fluke when you're building a top car in three consecutive years," he added.

Source: Motorsport

Ferrari switch unlikely for Vettel - Marko

Dr Helmut Marko doubts Sebastian Vettel would consider switching to Ferrari any time soon.

Vettel, 22, has said recently he sees the famous Maranello based team as a possible future employer.

The German is believed to be under contract to Red Bull until the end of 2011, but the energy drink company's motor racing advisor Marko is not sure a move to Ferrari soon would be a good idea.

"Ferrari is something very special for each driver," the Austrian said in an interview with APA news agency.

"But you only have to look at the situation. Why should he go there to be with Alonso when he's doing more than well with us?"

Interestingly, however, Marko said Red Bull would not sign an agreement that binds Vettel to the Milton-Keynes based squad for the rest of his formula one career.

"That's something we wouldn't want. He needs to feel at home and that he wants to be driving with us," said the former grand prix driver.

Marko added that "talks" to retain the current Vettel/Mark Webber lineup are "in progress", but warned that Red Bull is in a good negotiating position.

"We no longer have to go knocking on doors (for drivers)," he said.

Source: F1 Complete