The Red Bull Racing Story: 2005-2012
Video Copyright © Red Bull Racing
The Red Bull Racing Story…
Video Copyright © Red Bull Racing
Kimi Raikkonen: “F1 Hasn’t Changed”
Kimi Raikkonen has explained how Formula 1 has not changed much since he left the sport in 2009, after a highly uncompetitive season with Ferrari which saw the Finn’s motivation practically ebb away completely. However, after a competitive return to the sport this year with Lotus, Raikkonen seems reinvigorated as he strives to win again.
After miraculously becoming World Champion in 2007 for Ferrari, the Finn endured two rather frustrating seasons with the Scuderia. After winning six races in 2007 on his way to the title, Kimi Raikkonen was only able to win a combined three races throughout the next two seasons. This saw his motivation ebb away race after race, until he finally left the sport after the 2009 season to pursue a career in the FIA World Rally Championship.
However, after only two years away from the world of Formula 1, which also featured a stint in both the NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series, the Finn decided to finally return to the sport with Lotus alongside Romain Grosjean. Unlike Michael Schumacher, Raikkonen immediately showed he had lost none of his competitiveness and by Bahrain was already finishing on the podium once again.
“It hasn’t really done anything.” Explained Kimi Raikkonen, when asked whether his break in Rallying had helped him. “I was pretty happy to go and do something else for a while, did some racing and I’m enjoying it again. It’s the same places – OK, there are some new circuits and places to come to this year and a new team, but apart from that, Formula One hasn’t changed and it’s exactly the same. For me, nothing’s really changed.”
One of the only changes to the sport during Kimi Raikkonen’s return this season has been the tyres, which have been a major talking point all year. During the 2009 season, Japanese tyre supplier Bridgestone were the sole tyre supplier up and down the grid. Refueling was also permitted, with pit stops occurring at what was then regarded as a traditional rate not entirely because the tyres were wearing out, but because more fuel was required.
With refueling now banned in Formula 1 during the races, tyre wear has become the major talking point up and down the paddock. However, the ‘Iceman’ has remained undeterred with the high wear rate of the Pirelli tyres throughout this season, which as certainly spiced up the action during the race weekends.
“I admit that I had some thoughts about the tyres before I did one private test – OK, it wasn’t the race tyres, it was some other even more worse tyres but I thought that they were fine.” Said Kimi Raikkonen, “When you come from rallying, they have much more grip and the tyres were OK for me so after that, I already knew that I would not have any issues, because there was a lot of talk that maybe it was not good, but when I came back, I didn’t really remember how it was two years earlier, so I thought that the tyres were completely fine and I still do so.”
Throughout the 2012 season, Kimi Raikkonen has successfully managed to finish every single racing lap, a feat achieved by no other driver on the grid. This alone shows just how competitive the Finn has been all season, despite not winning a single race so far. Raikkonen currently sits 3rd in the Drivers’ Championship with 167 points scored, and is still striving to take his first victory since the 2009 Belgian Grand Prix in the final four races.
Although the Finn has not been officially confirmed at Lotus for next season, the general belief within the paddock is that Kimi Raikkonen will once again partner Romain Grosjean at the Enstone-based outfit. Next season the ‘Iceman’ will most definitely be targeting races victories, if not his second Drivers’ Crown.
Picture Copyright © Getty Images
Closed Cockpits The Way Ahead In Formula 1 After Alonso Crash
Closed cockpits in Formula 1 are now almost a given in future seasons after Fernando Alonso’s lucky escape during the first corner incident at Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix, in which the Championship leader was violently collected by the Lotus of Romain Grosjean and the McLaren of Lewis Hamilton.
With Technical Chiefs up and down paddock hinting at bringing forward plans to introduce closed cockpit designs, it is believed these introductions could occur as soon as 2014. With Grosjean’s car passing so closely to Alonso’s vulnerable head, a horrific outcome was only centimeters away as the Frenchman’s machine flew over the top of Alonso’s Ferrari.
A similar incident occurred in 2007, when David Coulthard tangled with Alexander Wurz at the season opening Australian Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver was attempting to overtake Wurz in the Williams, however the Austrian driver failed to notice him and the two collided with Coulthard flying over the Williams in similar fashion to Grosjean on Sunday.
Felipe Massa being attended to after getting struck on the head by debris at Budapest in 2009.
Closed cockpits in Formula 1 has been on the cards for several years now, especially after Felipe Massa was struck on the head by debris from Rubens Barrichello’s Brawn GP car at the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix. This incident severely injured Massa, and came only days after Henry Surtees was killed in a similar incident during a Formula 2 race at Brands Hatch. McLaren’s Paddy Lowe believes the introduction of closed cockpits is inevitable, after working on the project in recent years.
“I think 2014 is intended, as we started the project a year ago,” explained McLaren’s Technical Director, Paddy Lowe. “Personally I think something is inevitable because it is the one big [safety] exposure that we have got. You see it time and time again and think ‘that was lucky’. One day it won’t be lucky. At the same time it is an open cockpit formula so we have to protect that, but it should be technically possible one way or another.”
Romain Grosjean was subsequently issued a one race ban for causing the incident, which took out two Championship contenders and nearly injured a fellow competitor. The Frenchman has become renowned for his start-line antics, and hopefully this ban will change his mentality when he returns to racing at the Singapore Grand Prix later this month.
Picture(s) Copyright © Getty Images
Kimi Raikkonen Eager To Take Fifth Victory At Spa
Kimi Raikkonen has become somewhat of a master of the legendary Spa-Francorchamps circuit in recent years, winning the race four times between 2004 and 2009. As the 2007 World Champion gears up to return to the Ardennes Forest this weekend, he admits he is eager to take his fifth Belgian Grand Prix victory.
Although Kimi Raikkonen has yet to win a race so far this season, it is unquestionable that the ‘Iceman’ has been one of the most competitive and consistent drivers on the grid. Only four races into his return to the sport, and Kimi Raikkonen was already back on the podium with 2nd at the Bahrain Grand Prix. As the season has progressed, Raikkonen has consistently finished every lap of the season and has is without a doubt on course to win a race sooner rather than later.
Kimi Raikkonen’s last F1 victory at Spa in 2009.
The Finn’s last victory around the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in 2009 was incidentally his last victory in Formula 1 to date, back when he was a Ferrari driver alongside Felipe Massa. Admittedly a lot has changed in the sport since then, however Kimi Raikkonen is understandably brimming with confidence ahead of this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix.
“Usually I’ve achieved good results at the Belgian Grand Prix, but what’s happened before doesn’t help me right now.” Explained Kimi Raikkonen, “Obviously it would be great to win at Spa for a fifth time. I haven’t won during the first part of the season and the extra points are always good. Of course, we will do our very best to win this race. I have stood in the middle of the podium a few times and I want to be there again.”
Both Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean have come exceedingly close to victory this season, however it’s undeniably true that their lack of performance in qualifying has held the Lotus outfit back when it comes to race day. In this highly competitive and unpredictable season, qualifying has once again become imperative if a driver wishes to take victory. Kimi Raikkonen understands that qualifying has so far been the team’s achilles’ heel, and believes the team is continuing to improve as the season progresses.
“We know the reason though [that Lotus haven’t yet won a race]; we’ve not been so strong in qualifying as we have in the race which makes life harder for ourselves on Sundays.” Admitted Kimi Raikkonen, “Of course we would rather win than come second or third but it’s a long season and I think we’re improving all the time. If it comes then great, if not we’ll keep trying. We’ve been improving our position in the Championships – both for myself and for the team – so as long as we keep doing that hopefully the win will come.”
Kimi Raikkonen is without a doubt overdue for a Grand Prix victory, and Spa-Francorchamps would undeniably be the best location for the ‘Iceman’ to return to his race winning ways. With Lotus preparing to run their own rendition of the Mercedes-pioneered Double-DRS device, expect both Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean to be near the sharp end of the field once the Belgian Grand Prix gets underway this weekend.
Picture(s) Copyright © Getty Images
Mark Webber Extends Contract With Red Bull For 2013
It has been confirmed by Red Bull that Australian driver Mark Webber has extended his contract with the Milton Keynes-based outfit, after months of speculation regarding the future of the 35-year-old. This announcement means Red Bull’s driving line-up will remain unchanged for 2013, with reigning World Champion Sebastian Vettel already contracted until next season.
Mark Webber has been a Red Bull driver since 2007, after moving from Williams after two seasons with the Grove-based outfit. Since then, the Australian driver has enjoyed a highly successful career taking 10 poles, 9 wins and 31 podiums. Mark Webber has already taken two victories in 2012, at the Monaco and British Grands Prix and is currently only 13 points behind Championship leader Fernando Alonso.
“I’ve been with Red Bull Racing since 2007 and have achieved nine Grand Prix wins during that time.” Explained Mark Webber. “I’m high on confidence at the moment and firing on all cylinders. I know the Team well and I’m very comfortable here; we have grown together over the years and it feels like absolutely the right thing to stay with Red Bull for another season. It’s great to be able to make this announcement off the back of the win in Silverstone at the weekend and I’m looking forward to competing on the edge and pushing myself in every race again next season.”
Red Bull’s team principal Christian Horner believes it was a logical decision to extend their partnership, especially with the Australian driver currently scoring consistent and competitive results for the team. Mark Webber has consistently finished within the points in every race except Spain, where he finished 11th. With the 2012 season highly competitive and unpredictable, consistent results could well be the key to the Championship in 2012.
“Mark has driven very well in the first nine races of this season and his performance has been impressive.” Said Christian Horner, “Much of his Formula One success has been during his time with Red Bull Racing and together we have achieved 10 poles, nine wins and 31 podiums. As there was a strong desire from both sides to continue the partnership, it was a logical decision to extend our relationship and it is with great pleasure that we confirm Mark will drive for us in 2013.”
Mark Webber has announced that he did enter discussions with Ferrari, confirming weeks of speculation that the Aussie could’ve moved to the Italian-outfit. In the end, though, his decision was to remain with Red Bull as his main focus switches to the Championship battle.
“My main focus is on this year’s Championship, which is very important.” Continued Mark Webber. “There were discussions with Ferrari, but my decision was to stay here.”
The last Australian driver to become the Formula 1 World Champion was Alan Jones back in 1980, and Mark Webber will undeniably be striving to change that fact as the Championship battle continues at the front. A bad result for Alonso and another win for Webber could well be the turning point in this highly entertaining season.
Lewis Hamilton Feeling The Pressure In 2012
Although Lewis Hamilton took victory at the Canadian Grand Prix, which in turn meant the Briton could leave Montreal leading the Drivers’ Championship, the 2008 World Champion has explained how he is feeling enormous amounts of pressure to produce good results this season.
With this unique season ever changing, Lewis Hamilton has stated how consistency is a better aim, rather than individual strong results. The McLaren driver has so far successfully finished every race this season in the points, which is his best start to a Formula 1 season since his debut back in 2007.
“My win in Montreal was obviously an extremely satisfying moment for me – but, actually, it does very little to alter things in the World Championship.” Explained Lewis Hamilton, “We may have won in Canada, but there’s an enormous amount of pressure to keep racking up good results at every Grand Prix. I think that consistency, rather than individual strong results, will be the key to winning this World Championship, so we need to back it up in Valencia with another strong result.”
After seven different winners in the first seven races of the season, many are predicting another different winner this weekend in Valencia. Even former World Champion Lewis Hamilton is struggling to make a firm prediction ahead of this weekends race, however his only aim is to score another strong and consistent result.
“People are always asking me to predict what will happen at the next race and I always tell them it’s really difficult to make an accurate prediction.” Continued Hamilton, “But I’ll be heading to Valencia feeling super-motivated to get another strong result and maintain my momentum before we head into Silverstone and the Santander British Grand Prix.”
Lewis Hamilton has never won at the European Grand Prix, whereas McLaren have never won around the Valencia Street Circuit altogether. Both Lewis Hamilton and his team-mate Jenson Button will be striving to take victory this weekend, however Hamilton seems quite content on consistency this season, and it seems to be paying off!
Alexander Rossi To Drive For Caterham In FP1 At Spain
As Caterham gear up for the Spanish Grand Prix on Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya, it has been announced that American driver Alexander Rossi will replace Heikki Kovalainen on Friday morning during FP1. This comes after Rossi was announced as the teams test driver alongside Giedo van der Garde in March.
Alexander Rossi has previously raced in the GP3 Series and World Series by Renault, winning races in both Championships. The American had a highly competitive season in the World Series by Renault Championship last year, after winning a stunning 9 races on his way to 3rd in the Drivers’ Championship behind current F1 rookie Jean-Eric Vergne and Robert Wickens.
“I am looking forward to getting back into the F1 car in Spain and I want to thank the team for the chance to run in FP1 in Barcelona.” Explained Alexander Rossi, “I have a clear goal for the session – make sure I run to the plan set by the engineers, not make any mistakes and learn as much as I can over the whole weekend. I know how much I will be able to take from my time with the team back to my Formula Renault 3.5 commitments and I know the team will do everything they can to help me maximize my performance on Friday.”
Heikki Kovalainen will naturally return to the car for the remainder of the weekend, as Caterham continue to reel in the midfield teams. Alexander Rossi will be the first American driver to step into a Formula 1 car during a Grand Prix weekend since Scott Speed did so with Toro Rosso in 2007.
Was Romain Grosjean Issued Team Orders In Bahrain?
During the Bahrain Grand Prix, many eyebrows were raised when Lotus failed to give Romain Grosjean direct team orders to allow the much faster Kimi Raikkonen through. With Raikkonen loosing time behind his slower team-mate, many believe it was this error that cost Lotus and Raikkonen their first win of 2012.
However, Finnish TV broadcaster MTV3 have reported that Lotus did actually issue the Frenchman team orders, with the team stating that Raikkonen was faster than Grosjean. The team reportedly ended the radio message ordering Grosjean not told the 2007 World Champion up, as they hunted for their first victory under the Lotus name.
Although such team orders are now legal in Formula 1, Lotus were adamant that they didn’t issue Romain Grosjean such orders and that they were happy to see the two race each other for track position. The topic of team orders has been a touchy subject up and down the paddock, after Ferrari ordered Felipe Massa to let Fernando Alonso through in 2010 with the infamous “Fernando is faster than you” statement.
Ultimately, the Finn was unable to pass Sebastian Vettel and win the Bahrain Grand Prix, and although Raikkonen was initially frustrated at not winning the race, Lotus left Bahrain in high spirits after a superlative team result with 2nd and 3rd.
Since Bahrain, many have predicted that both Kimi Raikkonen and even Romain Grosjean could win a race in 2012. Both drivers‘ know how to win races, and both will be eager to replicate such competitiveness next time out in Spain in just under two weeks time.
Kimi Raikkonen Rues Lost Opportunity For Race Win
Only four races into his return to Formula 1 from Rallying, 2007 World Champion Kimi Raikkonen has already finished on the podium in a highly competitive drive which saw him gain nine positions. However, with the Finn naturally pleased with his efforts, he regrets not taking what would’ve been an unforgettable victory for Lotus.
After passing his team-mate Romain Grosjean and then closing the gap to leader Vettel, Raikkonen had his one and only opportunity to snatch the lead away from Vettel. Unfortunately, the returning Champion failed to complete such a move, and subsequently finished 2nd +3.333 seconds behind the reigning World Champion.
“It’s a great result for the team and we deserve it as everyone has been working very hard.” Said Kimi Raikkonen, who finished on the podium for the first time since Italy 2009. “To be honest, I’m slightly disappointed we didn’t take the win because we had the pace. I only had one chance to overtake Sebastian [Vettel] and unfortunately I chose the wrong side to try and get past. At the end of the day, it’s good to have both cars on the podium, especially after [the] last race which didn’t go to plan, but I honestly think we could have taken the victory today.”
The former McLaren and Ferrari driver started the race in 11th position, and therefore had the luxury of choosing which tyres he started the race on. This ability enabled the Finn to storm to the sharp end of the field, and return to his old ways of battling for race victories.
Kimi Raikkonen last won a Formula 1 race in 2009, at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium. With the pace of the Lotus team and Raikkonen combined, it’s surely only a matter of timed before the Finnish national anthem is heard once again at an F1 event.
Picture Copyright © Lotus F1 Team
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