Category: Red Bull Racing

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Formula 1 Red Bull Racing Toro Rosso

Ricciardo says “I’ll be right” against Vettel

Daniel Ricciardo

Speaking at the FIA’s Thursday press conference ahead of this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix, new Red Bull signing Daniel Ricciardo responded to a suggestion that he could use Mick Dundee’s knife to help his relationship with Sebastian Vettel by saying, “I’ll be right.”

Red Bull’s other Australian, Mark Webber, has faith in Daniel too. “Daniel will handle it fine. He knows how to handle himself so he’ll be OK,” said Mark.

As you might expect Daniel was the focus of several questions during the press conference and after the break we’ve got all the comments relating to the 24-year-old Aussie.

[Pic: Toro Ross/Getty Images]

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Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Please don’t boo Sebastian, he doesn’t like it

2013 British Grand Prix

As you can imagine when you’re a triple world champion, on track to make it four, your opinion is in high demand. Here’s a couple of snippets from recent interviews carried out with Sebastian Vettel, pictured above after retiring from the British GP.

From the Daily Mail: When he retired from this year’s British Grand Prix he was shamefully booed by a number of the crowd. Why? He is German and old enmities die hard. He is so successful he breeds resentment for no better reason. Does it hurt him?

‘It’s normal,’ he says, smiling, the afternoon after he cruised to victory at the Belgian Grand Prix. ‘I am very happy. I obviously would not swap with anybody.

‘There are situations or stories where you want to tell people the truth as you see it. You learn to deal with the fact some think what they want. If it reaches the point where it takes your attention away from your racing then it has got in the way.’

Has that ever happened? ‘No.’ But was the reaction at Silverstone surprising? ‘Yes. I didn’t understand it. I had not done anything to make them do it. I went up on to the stage later for the post-race concert and got booed again. I took my camera out and said, ‘If you are going to boo me at least do it properly. I tried to make a laugh out of it.

‘But you don’t like it when people boo. Obviously in the British Grand Prix if I am leading and they want a British driver to win they might not like it, which is fair, but booing, I don’t think that is fair. If one starts booing, others join in. I don’t think they were all wanting to boo per se; it was a chain reaction, so you shouldn’t get too upset by that.’

From PlanetF1: Asked how he expects his new Australian team-mate to perform, Vettel told reporters at Monza: “It’s difficult to say because at the moment he’s not in a car which allows him to score points regularly and race in the sort of area that we race.

“But I’m very sure he’s pushing very hard; he has been the last couple of years and I’m sure he will be in particular next year trying to do everything to beat me.

“So in that regard nothing changes, I’ll have another Australian trying to make my life difficult!”

It’s worth reading the Daily Mail article in full, in truth he doesn’t come across too bad. But we’ll still enjoy doing our bit to ensure Sebastian continues in his pantomime villain role next year when “Our Daniel” joins his side.

[Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]

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BMW Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Reaction to Daniel Ricciardo’s promotion

Daniel Ricciardo and Sebastian Vettel

After the inevitable became reality we’ve been interested to read the reaction via twitter from others to the confirmation that Daniel Ricciardo will join Sebastian Vettel at Red Bull Racing next year. We thought this photo taken back in 2006 when Daniel was racing in the Formula BMW Asia championship with Sebatsian, then a test driver for BMW Sauber, was a nice match.

The Autosport article “Ten reasons Red Bull signed Ricciardo” is also worth a read (subscription required).

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Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

OFFICIAL: Ricciardo to drive for Red Bull Racing

Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing

We’ve known it to be a virtual certainty for over two weeks, but now it’s official: Daniel Ricciardo will replace Mark Webber at Red Bull Racing next year.

Team Principal Christian Horner is at pains to say both Daniel and new teammate Sebastian Vettel will get the same equipment and the same opportunity. Of course, the Formula 1 world will be very sceptical about that, expecting Daniel will play a clear number two role in support of Vettel.

Naturally, Daniel is very happy. “I feel very, very good at the moment and obviously there’s a lot of excitement running through me,: he said.

“Next year I’ll be with a Championship-winning team, arguably the best team, and will be expected to deliver. I’m ready for that. I’m not here to run around in tenth place, I want to get the best results for myself and the team.”

It seems clear that Daniel experiences with Red Bull Racing over the years has played a strong part in the team’s decision. “I would like to thank the team for giving me the opportunity to show what I can do,” Ricciardo added.

“I know the team quite well already since being its reserve driver in 2010, which should make the transition easier. It will be a great challenge to be up against Sebastian Vettel, I’m looking forward to that.”

We wish Daniel all the best and hope he’s able to match it with the world’s best. There’s more after the break, including extended video interviews with Danial, Christian Horner and Adrian Newey.

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Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

It won’t hippen overnight, but it will hippen

Daniel Riccardo

We don’t really know why Red Bull is playing silly buggers and not confirming Daniel Ricciardo’s promotion from Toro Rosso. But the whole world knows it’s going to hippen. Hippen?!

Ah yes, it seems one possible explanation for the delay could be the width of young Daniel’s hips. Yes, really.

It turns out that the 24-year-old Aussie’s hips are wider than Sebastian Vettel’s and Mark Webber’s. Adrian Newey likes a skinny car, you see, and there’s a slight problem of fitting Daniel into the 2104 RB10.

“I’ve got wide hips. It’s not my arse per se. I guess it’s genetic,” explained Daniel to Tom Cary from The Telegraph. “Even when I signed for Toro Rosso we had to do a few seat fits and they did some scans to make that particular part of the cockpit a bit wider, so that we’re not sitting on the actual carbon fibre.

“But yeah, I’ve heard that Adrian does like to build small race cars. I can’t do much about it. Even if I go on a massive diet my hip bones aren’t going to change.”

Another factor indicating Ricciardo is Red Bull bound is his confirmation that he has moved to sunny Monaco. While that takes him away from Milton Keynes where RBR is based, perhaps the young fella has just secured a pay rise that might make the tax-free confines of Monaco a little more attractive.

One thing is certain, Daniel isn’t going to let his hips stop him from getting a chance to be Sebastian’s bitch.

“No chance. I’d shave my hips if necessary. I might die of blood loss but it would be worth it,” he quipped.

[Source: The Telegraph | Thanks to Ryan for the tip]

 

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2013 Belgian Grand Prix in pictures

2013 Belgian Grand Prix

Here’s your lot, recapturing Vettel’s dominance, from the scenic Ardennes mountains. It’s a majestic circuit in a beautiful location. Everyone loves Spa-Francorchamps!

We loved Mark Webber’s scenic bike ride and we also loved the many views of Eau Rouge. It’s easy to dismiss the corner in these times when an F1 car can just nail it flat down the hill and over the blind crest of Radillon.

You probably need to see it with your own eyes to appreciate just how steep that climb is. How fearsome it would be, flat out in an F1 car, heading into the unknown searching for the relative safety of the Kemmel Straight. We can only imagine the feeling one’s body would experience with the fluctuation of G forces and messages being fired into your brain from your watering eyes.

Just amazing.

Knowing what we know now about the Greenpeace protest, it’s also interesting to see the evidence of the signs being installed as the cars were lining up on the grid to start the race.

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2013 Belgian GP: Post-race press conference

2013 Belgian Grand Prix

Sebastian Vettel explains the tale of Belgian Grand Prix victory lay in a good opening lap. “It helped the first lap to have the tow off Lewis through Eau Rouge and then I was flying,” he said. “Once I passed him we had incredible pace and really could control the race until the end.”

Finishing in fifth place wasn’t part of Mark Webber’s plans in his final F1 appearance at Spa. “The two practice starts before the race weren’t great and so we were a bit worried about the clutch going to the start, which put us on to the back foot,” Mark said. “We tried our best, but lost a couple of rows off the line which is not good. We then had to try and clear people on the track, which was difficult, as we had set up the top gear to race in clean air, rather than to pass. The bad start put us out of position and it snowballs from there, as you use up the tyres trying to getting to back into position.”

Meanwhile Daniel Ricciardo was happy to finish in the points after starting from P19. “It was nice to get that point! We ran a long first stint on the Hards and I think that helped us build a good base to have a strong pace in the final stints on the Medium,” Daniel explained. “I felt much more comfortable on the Option tyre and that’s when my race really started. With the last set of tyres I was knocking out maybe ten or so qualifying laps and managed to pick off some cars in front to bring home that crucial point.”

The full transcript of the post-race press conference featuring the first three drivers can be read after the break.

[Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]

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Ferrari Formula 1 Mercedes-Benz Red Bull Racing

Sebastian Vettel wins 2013 Belgian GP

Sebastian Vettel wins 2013 Belgian Grand Prix

Sebastian Vettel cruised to an easy victory at the 2013 Belgian Grand Prix. The Red Bull ace had to work hard on the first lap to overtake pole sitter Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes AMG) but once that was done he remained unchallenged.

Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) was the big improver the head of the field, finishing second after starting from P9. Lewis Hamilton had to content himself with P3.

Nico Rosberg (Mercedes AMG) finished where he started in P4, while Mark Webber (Red Bull) dropped two places to finish fifth. Although, there was word just before the race began that Webber had clutch issues which may explain his slow getaway off the line and why he dropped three places after the first lap.

Toro Rosso will be pleased that their drivers made good ground after their qualifying woes. Starting from P19 Daniel Ricciardo managed to fight his way to P10 to claim a championship point, while Jean-Eric Vergne improved from P18 to P12.

Aside from a bit of a kerfuffle with Pastor Maldonado (Williams) and the two Force India drivers which sent Paul di Resta in for an early shower not much else happened.

Tonight’s win is Vettel’s 31st career victory which places him equal fifth on the all-time tally alongside Nigel Mansell. What odds he’ll join Fernando Alonso on 32 wins at Monza in a couple of weeks?

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Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Webber anoints Ricciardo his successor

2013 Bahrain Grand Prix

While we’re still waiting for the official word that Daniel Ricciardo will replace Mark Webber at Red Bull next year, Webber himself has pretty much given the game away.

“The decision’s made,” Mark told James Allen on Channel 10. “We all know who it is. I’m happy with that decision.

“It’s good for him and good for Australia.”

Meanwhile, officially at least, the 24-year-old Aussie is not taking anything for granted. “I’m not going to assume anything,” Ricciardo said. “For me there is still a seat up for grabs.”

“Obviously there is a bit of excitement around, but there is nothing further to say from what I knew in Budapest.

“I think I’ve learned that until something is signed, sealed and delivered nothing is ever concrete.”

[Source: Ten Sport | Pic: Toro Rosso/Getty Images]

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Formula 1 Mercedes-Benz Red Bull Racing

2013 Belgian GP: Qualifying report

2013 Belgian Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes AMG) surprised himself to finish on top after qualifying at the Belgian Grand Prix overnight. It was an exciting session in which constantly changing weather conditions kept drivers and teams on their toes.

Starting with Q1, all teams began on intermediate tyres and a natural order was taking place. Rain stopped falling during Q1 and the track began to dry out. Late in the session Giedo van der Garde (Caterham) risked slick tyres, putting on a set of new mediums. It resulted in him setting the third fastest time in Q1. Casualties, failing to proceed to Q2, were both Williams and the Toro Rosso pairing, including Daniel Ricciardo.

“That was down to bad timing more than anything else,” explained Daniel. “We went out too early for that second run and by the second lap, the tyres were already worn and that was when the track conditions were at their best. Obviously, it’s very frustrating, but now all we can do is put it behind us and concentrate on tomorrow. We have to learn from this and make sure we get it right next time.”

The middle session was dry and there were no surprises as to who made the final 10. But Q3 was when the real fun began. All drivers, except Paul di Resta (Force India), went out on slicks and by the end of their out laps all nine drivers came straight back in for inters as the rain began to fall. Meanwhile, di Resta was out in what was expected to be the best of the conditions and with the track to himself he set a time he hoped would be enough for pole (2:02.332).

For a while that seemed to be the case as well, for the next few minutes no drivers really got close. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes AMG, 2:02.332)  posted a quality lap to just pip di Resta and then the track began to dry again. It was still wet enough for intermediate tyres and as the final three drivers crossed the line all indications were they would be fighting for pole.

First to cross the line was Mark Webber (Red Bull, 2:01.325) who claimed provisional pole. Moments later that was bettered by his teammate Sebastian Vettel (2:01.200), whose time in the spotlight lasted until Lewis Hamilton (2:01.012) crossed the line and claimed his fourth consecutive pole position. It’s Lewis’ fifth pole for the year and the 31st of his career.

The full post-quali transcript with the top three drivers can be read after the break.

[Pic: Mercedes AMG]

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Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

“Kimi will not be driving for Red Bull in 2014”

2013 German Grand Prix

Daniel Ricciardo’s position at Red Bull Racing for 2014 is all but confirmed with Kimi Raikkonen’s manager declaring the 2007 world champion will not be switching to Red Bull next year.

Speaking to Finnish publication Turun Sanomat, Kimi’s manager, Steve Robertson, said: “It’s true, Kimi will not be driving for Red Bull in 2014. We held some talks, but a deal will not be happening.”

Although, it still appears as though Raikkonen has a choice regarding his future in F1. “We are pretty confident that Kimi will be in F1 next year,” Robertson added. “There are options—and that is plural—out there and I will continue to talk to teams. I am hopeful we will sort something out in the not too distant future.”

[Source: Autosport | Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]

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Formula 1 News Red Bull Racing

Rumour: Daniel Ricciardo gains promotion to Red Bull

2013 German Grand Prix

German media outlet Sport Bild is reporting that Daniel Ricciardo will replace Mark Webber at Red Bull Racing in 2014. It’s believed confirmation will come prior to next weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix.

That would mean Red Bull has knocked back two world champions, Kimi Raikkonen and potentially Fernando Alonso, in favour of the 24-year-old Australian.

We expect current world champion Sebastian Vettel will be very pleased to have Ricciardo on the other side of the garage. Daniel will be a clear number two. It’s also a sign of faith in Red Bull’s own young driver program, with Ricciardo serving his apprenticeship at Toro Rosso, following the same pathway as Vettel.

It would appear that Ricciardo did enough to impress Red Bull Racing during his recent test with them at Silverstone. On Day 2 of the Silverstone test Ricicardo was fastest overall for Toro Rosso and backed that up with the third fastest time of the day driving for Red Bull.

In 2010 Ricciardo shared Red Bull’s reserve driver duties with Kiwi Brendon Hartley before becoming Toro Rosso’s sole reserve driver in 2011. Later that year Daniel made his Formula 1 debut with HRT at the British Grand Prix.

Since 2012 Ricciardo has partnered with Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne at Toro Rosso. Daniel has made 41 race starts in F1 collecting a total of 21 championship points, with a best finish of seventh (2013 Chinese Grand Prix).

We’ll bring your more news on this story as soon as we can.

[Source: sportbild.de (translated) | Thanks to Tom for the tip]