Red Bull Ring opening attracts F1 stars

As we gear up for the launch of the F1-spec Red Bull Ring in Austria, we break down the state-of-the-art circuit to its component parts…

While there’s no Grand Prix this weekend, both Red Bull Racing F1 drivers will be at on track – at the opening of the new F1-spec Red Bull Ring in Austria.

On Sunday Sebastian Vettel, Mark Webber, along with Christian Horner and Adrian Newey will be in Spielberg at the former Österreichring for its grand unveiling.

At the event (it’s free to attend if you’re in the area) there will be a display from a Red Bull Racing car together with historic Formula One cars and The Flying Bulls, the historical aero display team.

Red Bull has taken the historic track and revamped and upgraded it to include a vehicle dynamics facility, off-road area and go-kart track, as well as two hotels and a country club.

The circuit which has seen its fair share of great races and a certain amount of controversy was dropped from the Formula One calendar in 2003. With the Red Bull Ring, the myths and legends of this racetrack will continue to exist to captivate motorsport enthusiasts now and in the future.

Österreichring/Red Bull Ring Historical Timeline

■1969 Opening of the Österreichring
■1970 More than 100,000 spectators cheer on Jochen Rindt at his home grand prix. A few weeks later he tragically dies in Monza
■1984 Niki Lauda wins his home grand prix
■1987 Austria is dropped from the Formula One calendar
■1996 Opening of the A1-Ring Austria
■1997 Formula One returns to the new A1-Ring
■2002 Team order at Ferrari: Rubens Barrichello let Schumacher overtake him, and Michael won the race. Some fans and pundits not impressed
■2003 Michael Schumacher wins the last F1 Grand Prix at the A1-Ring
■2011 The Red Bull Ring opens on May 15

Opening Day Programme

■Freestyle motocross show
■Flight show, Flying Bulls & Hannes Arch
■Historic Formula 1 race
■Static presentation Canadian American Challenge Cup
■Red Bull Racing & Toro Rosso Formula 1 teams
■Formula 1 stars from the past to the present
■Live music at the Red Bull Brandwagen

Source: YallaF1

Sebastian Vettel's Dream Team

Source: AlessaFainello

Webber Could Extend His Red Bull Stay

Christian Horner sees no reason why Mark Webber will not be with Red Bull beyond this season

Despite the crushing blow of missing out on the Formula One World title to team-mate Sebastian Vettel last year, Webber is ready to start the new campaign hungrier and more committed than Horner can recall.

Quashing speculation this season will be 34-year-old Webber's last hurrah in F1, Horner said: "Mark isn't approaching this year like this is his final year.

"We both agreed to keep his contract on a yearly basis at this stage in his career because it's important for us to see he's got the speed, motivation, hunger and commitment.

"All of those things look undiminished at the moment, if anything, burning brighter than ever.

"So we'll see how this season develops and obviously as we head towards the latter part of the summer then we'll start to talk about the following season."

Asked if he felt Webber would be with Red Bull in 2012, Horner replied: "If he's delivering at the same level as he did in 2010, why not?"

Vettel's championship victory could easily have had a demoralising effect, yet knowing the Australian as he does, Horner has not been surprised by Webber's mental fortitude.

"It was tough for Mark to take, seeing not only the championship slip from his grasp, but also seeing his team mate win it at the last knockings," said Horner.

"Obviously then the interest and hype that naturally follows the world champion, and obviously in Sebastian's case being such a young guy, is a very hard thing to deal with.

"But Mark is a mentally tough competitor and I think he will use that inwardly as motivation to come back even more determined, more focused.

"I think he's come back leaner, lighter and extremely motivated. That's why it's such an exciting pairing to have in our cars."

Source: Planet-F1

F1 - 2010 Red Bull Racing season review with Vettel, Webber and Horner

Source: NextegenAutoVideos

Red Bull Team at Sport un Talk aus dem Hangar-7

Today at Servus TV Vettel, Webber, Horner, Newey, Berger, Lauda, Coulthard

Source: Servus TV

Team bosses attempting to remain calm

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner is preparing for frayed nerves as he fears this season's battle for the World title will boil down to the last lap

Earlier this season Horner suggested the fight would go to the final race, and has obviously been proven right as the showdown takes place in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

A degree of tension has eased given Red Bull won the Constructors' Championship last Sunday, remarkably doing so in six short years after the team was built from the wreckage of Jaguar's failure.

The focus, however, is now firmly on the drivers, Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel, who find themselves eight and 15 points adrift of Championship leader Fernando Alonso.

The permutations as to what might unfold are many, which is why no-one can call just what will transpire at the Yas Marina circuit for what is undeniably one of the most exciting conclusions to a season in F1 history.

Attempting to manage those tensions that are likely to build within the team as a whole, and on both sides of the garage in particular, is not an easy task.

Taking the situation in his stride, Horner said: "My role, not just with the drivers, but also the engineers, the guys in the garage, throughout the team, is to stay incredibly focused.

"We had an unbelievable weekend last weekend in Brazil. Winning the Constructors' was a huge thing for the whole team.

"It's quite nice to have got that out of the way so there is not the distraction of thinking about that.

"Now there is pure focus on giving the drivers the best possible support we can going into Sunday's race.

"Obviously it's a different situation for us, compared to Ferrari and McLaren, because we've two guys competing against each other for the biggest prize in motor sport.

"To be honest, I've not seen any difference in them so far. They are focused on the job in hand, they both know to beat Fernando (to the title) they have to finish, and to finish ahead of him.

"So they're going about the weekend, as they have the previous 18, and they're pretty focused on getting the most of themselves, out of the car, and then we'll see how things pan out.

"But looking at what has happened this season, this Championship will go down to the last lap, which is a fascinating prospect."

For Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali, the goal is simple - one driver, one title on the line, with the sole aim of ensuring he finishes in the top two.

Such a scenario will ensure Fernando Alonso becomes only the ninth driver in F1 history to win three titles, and the youngest ever to achieve that feat.

For Domenicali, it comes down several factors as he said: "You need to be lucky, to keep a cool head and to keep that head up.

"We've seen in the past if you react emotionally at the wrong time and in the wrong way during a race because something has happened, then you make mistakes and it is finished.

"So we have to be very concentrated. We need to do the things we normally do in a weekend and not try to make too many calculations because if you do that then you get lost.

"We need to be focused on giving our best. Clearly we are trying to control the emotion we have inside, but so far everything is okay.''

Let us not forget Lewis Hamilton, 24 points adrift of Alonso and having to win to stand any chance, but who was quickest at the end of today's practice, followed by Vettel, Alonso and Webber.

Of all the drivers he arguably faces the easiest task, as explained by team principal Martin Whitmarsh.

"Lewis has to focus on winning the race, and thereafter if he wins the Championship then it's in the hands of others," said Whitmarsh.

"If you're trying to defend a position, to control the points you get, or the points your rivals get it, becomes more complicated.

"Right now Lewis is relaxed and focused. He wants to win it, but whether he can, we'll start to understand tomorrow afternoon."

Source: Planet-F1

Red Bull: No team orders in Abu Dhabi

Christian Horner insists Red Bull Racing will not use team orders in Abu Dhabi, saying it's up to the drivers to decide what's best for them

Following their 1-2 finish in Brazil on Sunday afternoon, which went in Sebastian Vettel's favour, the Red Bull duo have closed up on Fernando Alonso in the race for the World title.

Alonso is still leading the hunt, although his advantage over Webber is only eight points while Vettel is a further seven off the pace.

However, should the trio finish in Abu Dhabi as they did in Brazil, Webber and Vettel would be tied on 256 points and Alonso would take the title, five ahead of the Bulls.

But, should Vettel move aside for Webber, the Aussie would win the title by two points over Alonso. Vettel would be 14 behind his team-mate.

Horner, though, is adamant Red Bull will not impose orders on Vettel, although he concedes it is up to his drivers to make the final decision.

"I don't think there are any difficult decisions to be made," Horner said about the situation.

"We have two drivers that drive for the team, who have had tremendous support and equality this year. It would have been wrong to switch the drivers (in Brazil), as both drivers have the chance of winning the World Championship.

"Nobody has a crystal ball, nobody can foresee what will happen next weekend and all along we have tried to do the best to support them equally.

"And of course if they find themselves in a situation where one, because he cannot win, needs to help the other then of course I can only imagine that they will do that. But it will have to be a driver decision.

"You only have to look at the characters of the individuals that drive for us to recognise that they will do the best to ensure the best team results."

Pressed as to whether he was sure Vettel would do right by Webber if he was leading his team-mate and Alonso was third, Horner said: "Ultimately it is their decision. They both drive for the team and I know that they will both do the best that they can in that situation, should it arise, for the team.

"Nobody has a crystal ball and nobody can predict what will happen in a week's time. Both drivers go into the race weekend with a genuine chance of taking the World title."

As for the team, Horner insisted that despite claims from Webber that Red Bull favour his team-mate, "we will back both drivers equally and both drivers drive for the team.

"They will do whatever is right I am sure, at the end of the day, for the team. I have zero doubt about that. Had that situation occurred today, if Fernando had been ahead, then of course Sebastian would have done what was right for the team.

"But that was not the situation. Both drivers have taken valuable points off Fernando and both go into Abu Dhabi eight points and 15 respectively behind - which in today's scoring we have seen can change quite quickly."

Source: Planet-F1

Mark Webber row rumbles on at Red Bull as Christian Horner denies favouritism claims

Christian Horner has denied that Red Bull, the Austrian energy drinks giant, has any say in how he runs his team, while repeating his claim that neither of his two drivers is favoured.

In the wake of incidents in Turkey in May, and again following Mark Webber’s controversial win at Silverstone on Sunday, there has been widespread speculation that Red Bull’s Austrian owner would prefer Sebastian Vettel, a 23-year-old German, to win the world title over an Australian 10 years his senior.

While Horner has repeatedly claimed that he gives his drivers equal opportunities, many in the paddock believe that certain decisions are being forced upon him from above.

Webber fanned those flames last weekend in spectacular fashion. Furious that a new part from his car was transferred to Vettel’s just prior to qualifying, he drove a brilliant race on Sunday before pointedly telling Horner over the team radio: “Not bad for a No 2 driver.”

The Australian later insisted that he would not have signed a recent contract extension had he known the team would treat him like they did at Silverstone, adding that he would sit down with Horner on Monday to discuss the issue.

Horner said those talks had not yet happened but confirmed they would take place early this week. And the Red Bull team principal repeated his claim that he made the wing decision for the right reasons, stressing that the team’s owner had nothing to do with it.

“There has never been any pressure from Red Bull to favour one driver over the other,” he said. “I didn’t have a conversation with Helmut [Marko, the Austrian company’s motorsport adviser] or anyone from Red Bull regarding the decision to give Sebastian the wing. It was purely a technical decision, which I discussed with Adrian [Newey].

“My one regret is that I didn’t have time to discuss the issue with Mark personally prior to qualifying as I’m sure that would have given him a more balanced understanding.”

Horner also played down allegations that Webber’s side of the garage had taunted Vettel’s following the race. “It’s ridiculous,” he said. “Our mechanics are completely for each other, irrelevant of the car crew. That’s why we have some of the fastest pit stops in Formula One.

“There is one team of mechanics for both drivers and all championship bonuses are based on team position rather than driver so there is no favouritism at all.”

Horner revealed that Webber and Vettel had been up on stage singing together at a post-race party he hosted at his home, adding that he was sure he and Webber would settle their differences soon.

“Mark and I have always enjoyed a very good and transparent relationship,” he said. “I’ve known him for over a decade and I’ve always supported him, as I do Sebastian.
“They were both up on stage at our post-race party on Sunday singing together with myself, Adrian [Newey] and one or two others.

“You have to remember, this was a great result for the team and it was a hugely emotional occasion. It was great that we all celebrated together with Mark’s family and Seb’s family there as well.”

Hamilton and Button revel in rivals’ dispute

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button have declared themselves delighted at the simmering tensions within Red Bull’s camp, which they believe should play right into their hands.

Hamilton, who does not get on with Sebastian Vettel, said he was backing Mark Webber in the dispute: “If that was me, jeez,” Hamilton said of the decision to take a part from the Australian’s car and give it to the German. “It’s not nice but I’m very, very, very happy for Mark [that he won]. But it seems that we have more harmony in our team and that’s why we’re leading both championships.”

Button agreed that the conflict should help his team, adding that Webber’s suggestions of “smoke and mirrors” within McLaren prior to the British GP were wide of the mark.
“However much people take the mickey out of how well Lewis and I get on it works well with our team. The guys in the factory are not worrying about how we are with each other,” he said.

Source: The Daily Telegraph

Horner: Where was the room!

Christian Horner admits Red Bull paid a heavy price for their policy of allowing their drivers race. However, the drivers should have given one another room

Holding onto the 1-2 on lap 41 of the Turkish GP, Sebastian Vettel decided it was time to challenge his team-mate Mark Webber for the lead.

The two, though, touched, sending Vettel into retirement, Webber into the pits for repairs, and Horner into a well of despair.

"From a team perspective I'm really disappointed because the team had done everything right - we'd out-strategied the McLarens, who were strong today," the Red Bull team boss told the BBC.

"To see both cars touch each other was really disappointing.

"I've spoken to Sebastian, he got a run and they should never had been where they were. It's really disappointing for the team - it's cost them a lot of points.

"The priority is to beat the other teams and today we handed 43 points on a plate to McLaren.

The team really deserved to win this race. We need to sit down, go through it and come back stronger at the next event."

Red Bull have a policy of always allowing their drivers to race, neither Webber nor Vettel holding number one status within the team. I exchange for that, Horner says all he asks for it a bit of courtesy from both when racing each other.

"What we always ask is that the drivers give each other room," he said.

"Today neither yielded, and the result was the team losing a lot of points, Mark losing a lots of points and Sebastian losing a lot of points - the net result is everybody loses.

"We saw today with Jenson [Button] and Lewis [Hamilton], they raced each other and they gave each other space, and that's what we ask."

Source: Planet-F1

Horner cools contract talk

Red Bull Racing principal Christian Horner is adamant that the team are not in contract talks with Mark Webber, saying they are relaxed about the future of the new drivers' championship leader

Webber powered away to a Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday and reports before the race had suggested that Horner had been in talks with the driver's agent.

Webber's management team were seen entering into discussions with Horner ahead of the 33-year-old Australian's Monaco Grand Prix triumph, which propelled him to the top of the drivers' championship standings, and later emerging with beaming smiles.

But Horner maintains Webber's future has yet to be discussed, although if that is the case, he has certainly done himself the power of good with his back-to-back wins over the past two weekends.

"The team and Mark are very relaxed about the situation," said Horner. He is an important member of the team and he is driving fantastically well at he moment. He enjoys driving here, and we enjoy having him.

No talks

"But we have not spoken and have no real interest in speaking with any of our drivers, so when the time gets to it, we will sit down and look at the paperwork."

Horner acknowledged Webber is in the form of his career, underlined by the fact he has won in Spain and Monaco from pole to flag, a total of 144 consecutive laps in the lead.

"I said to Ann (Neal), his partner, 'I don't know what you have been giving Mark for breakfast, but please keep giving it to him'," joked Horner.

"His form has been exemplary in the last 10 days, and at two very different tracks. You can tell he is completely at one with his car and his confidence is high."

Although Webber and Vettel are tied on 78 points at the top of the championship - the former ahead on countback by two victories to one over the latter - and Red Bull now lead the constructors' title race, Horner is fully expecting a backlash from their rivals.

Opposition

"It's very early in the championship, and it's foolish to underestimate your opposition, especially quality teams like Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes," said Horner.

"They are teams with great pedigrees, and there is still a long way to go." Horner is also expecting it to be a nip-and-tuck battle between his two drivers, with no advantage given to one over the other at any stage.

"The best situation is to have both the drivers at the front of the field," added Horner.

"We treat them fairly, with the priority to beat everybody else, although I am sure between the two of them we will see the ebb and flow from now until the end of the season."

Source: SkySports.com

Red Bull eyes Spain debut for F-duct

Red Bull could be the next team with an 'F-duct' type system running on its 2010 car.

After McLaren pioneered the initially controversial innovation, Sauber, Ferrari, Williams and Mercedes have subsequently been tinkering with their own systems at recent races, with varying success.

It was rumoured in Shanghai that Red Bull, Renault and Force India are now close to having F-duct systems ready to add to their respective cars.

Red Bull's Christian Horner said the RB6 could be equipped with a downforce-spoiling system in Barcelona, "providing we make it back to Europe" amid the volcanic-ash air travel disruptions.

Meanwhile, it also emerges that the system running on Mercedes' W01 car in China might be referred to as an 'F-duct light', given that a more extreme version could debut in Spain.

The Shanghai version did not channel air through the engine cover, but rather from underneath the car, with the flow then flicked aerodynamically into a slot in the rear wing.

A system with a cockpit inlet adjustable by the driver was not seen in China but it could be ready for Turkey late next month, said team boss Ross Brawn.

He told Auto Motor und Sport that the China version brought about a tenth per lap, and that the full-blown system will be worth several tenths.

Fernando Alonso also suggested that Ferrari's "full version" will only be ready for a Grand Prix "later".

Source: Motorsport

Ride height saga shows Red Bull 'feared' - Vettel

The FIA's rule clarification about adjustable ride-height mechanisms has no impact on Red Bull, boss Christian Horner and designer Adrian Newey insist.

Following speculation that the ride-height of the RB6 car is somehow being altered between qualifying and the race, the governing body said last week that such a system would theoretically be a breach of the regulations.

But Horner says the FIA is "completely happy" with the car after detailed inspections, adding that it will be transported to China in an identical mechanical specification to the one raced to first and second places in Malaysia.

And Newey told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport: "We have neither an illegal, automatic system, nor a legal one like Ferrari's which allows an adjustment at the pitstops."

However, it also emerges that while Horner said recently he would welcome an FIA rule-tweak to legalise a ride-height change between qualifying and the race, Red Bull actually voted against the proposal.

Auto Motor und Sport said a second team also vetoed the rule change.

But the reason for Red Bull's veto reportedly has nothing to do with a secret system aboard the RB6, but instead the fact that its design is more efficient than its rivals with both high and low ride-heights.

The team's German driver Sebastian Vettel told Sport Bild magazine: "It is always the case in Formula One that the fastest cars are observed closely by the competition.

"There is always speculation and it's actually a compliment, because it shows that we are feared," the 22-year-old added.

Source: Motorsport

Raikkonen to partner Vettel at Red Bull in 2011 - report

Kimi Raikkonen is set to replace Red Bull's Mark Webber ahead of the 2011 season.

A report in Germany's Bild am Sonntag said the return of the Finn to Formula One, to become his friend Sebastian Vettel's teammate, is already being arranged.

Raikkonen, 30, is already under contract to the energy drinks company, having switched from Ferrari to world rallying for 2010 with the Red Bull-funded Citroen Junior Team.

RBR team boss Christian Horner recently admitted that hiring Raikkonen for 2011 is an "interesting idea", and speculation about Webber's expiring contract was re-fired this weekend when Lewis Hamilton tipped the Australian to retire.

Horner said on Saturday: "We are very happy with our drivers. Mark is driving very well, and he is not old, as Michael has demonstrated.

"The average age (of F1 drivers) has dropped, but as long as Mark is motivated, competitive and quick, I don't think that he has any thoughts of stopping just yet."

Vettel told Bild am Sonntag: "Kimi and I are good friends, but in the end I don't care who sits in the other car because I still have to beat him."

He would not confirm that the Raikkonen deal is close to being finalised.

"I don't know what the team is planning. And in the end, it is of course Kimi's decision. He needs to see how he feels."

Source: Motorsport

Fry, Horner join calls for mandatory two pitstops

Two more team chiefs have joined FOTA chairman Martin Whitmarsh in agreeing that F1 should react after Sunday's processional 2010 season opener in Bahrain.

The press and drivers slammed the impact of the new refuelling ban after the 49-lap Sakhir event, with the Bahrain race staging scarce variation in race strategies and little overtaking.

Heikki Kovalainen is the latest driver to describe the race as boring: "I agree totally, we need to do something about it."

McLaren boss Whitmarsh said after the race that a second pitstop per driver could be mandated to improve the situation, while Bridgestone might also have a role to play as the supplier of tyre compounds.

"I think it would be bad if we didn't react," Mercedes GP chief executive Nick Fry told reporters.
He said both sporting and technical changes should be on the table, even though "technical changes are obviously very difficult to make and expensive".

Red Bull's Christian Horner told Reuters that he has "always endorsed" the push to mandate a second pitstop in 2010, which was voted down by majority when initially proposed in the pre-season.

Source: Motorsport.com