Red Bull Racing

Red Bull Racing is a Formula One team owned by Austrian beverage company Red Bull. The team is managed by Christian Horner, boss of the Arden International F3000 team. Red Bull purchased Jaguar Racing, when the team's parent company Ford announced their withdrawal from Formula One at the end of the 2004 season, for an amount reputedly as high as $110 million (although some reports suggest Ford gave the team away for free in order to avoid costly obligations in the Concorde Agreement, which imposes fines on companies that fail to field two cars).

Related Topics:
Formula One - Austria - Beverage - Red Bull - Christian Horner - Arden International - F3000 - Jaguar Racing - Ford - 2004 season - Concorde Agreement

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The genus of the current team started with Jackie Stewart's Stewart Formula One team in 1997. The Stewart team had become quite competitive by 1999, winning a race in its own right in its final year. Ford, as part of its global marketing operations, bought the team outright and renamed it Jaguar Racing; Jaguar is a premium car company owned by Ford. However, during the years of Ford's ownership, the team was unable to revive its performances of 1999. The team's inconsistent results are generally attributed to a high turnover rate with team management. In Jaguar's five-year tenure, it withstood three management shakeups, including names such as triple world champion Niki Lauda and CART champion Bobby Rahal, as well as an abortive attempt to lure McLaren's incumbent technical director, Adrian Newey.

Related Topics:
Jackie Stewart - Stewart - 1997 - 1999 - Jaguar Racing - Jaguar - World champion - Niki Lauda - CART - Bobby Rahal - McLaren - Adrian Newey

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Jaguar's Formula One parent company, Ford, issued a polite ultimatum as part of a reduction in sport involvement internationally. In particular, because Jaguar did not advertise the core Ford brand, there was little return of value from the enormous amount of money invested, so funding was reduced from Ford itself. Ford chose to sell the operation near the end of 2004 despite a more consistent showing in its previous two years.

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Red Bull, a large energy drinks company, confirmed on 15 November 2004 that they had bought all assets of the defunct Jaguar Racing team from Ford. The team continued to have access to the Cosworth engine developed for their 2005 chassis, and the operation continued under the new title.

Related Topics:
15 November - Cosworth - 2005

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Red Bull Racing was not the start of Red Bull's involvement in motorsport. Setting up a Formula One team of its own meant that Red Bull had to end its long-term partnership with the Sauber Formula One team. The drinks company also runs a young drivers programme, Red Bull Junior Team, whereby Red Bull sponsors promising young drivers. High-profile drivers who have received this backing include Enrique Bernoldi, Christian Klien, Patrick Friesacher, Vitantonio Liuzzi and Scott Speed. Red Bull also sponsors many drivers and teams competing in the GP2 Series, Formula One's "feeder" series.

Related Topics:
Sauber - Red Bull Junior Team - Enrique Bernoldi - Christian Klien - Patrick Friesacher - Vitantonio Liuzzi - Scott Speed - GP2 Series

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Red Bull's owner, Dietrich Mateschitz, reportedly tried to recruit former Formula One driver and BMW Motorsport chief (and fellow Austrian) Gerhard Berger to help guide the team through its debut season. However, this was never realised. For 2005, the chassis was christened the RB1. Former McLaren driver David Coulthard led the team. Coulthard was chosen for his experience, considered ideal to help lead the fledgling team.

Related Topics:
Dietrich Mateschitz - BMW Motorsport - Austria - Gerhard Berger - 2005 - McLaren - David Coulthard

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For the second car, Red Bull would naturally select a driver from its own driver programme. But there was a problem ? which one? Christian Klien already had his foot in the door, as he drove for Jaguar in 2004. But Red Bull wanted to promote its other drivers aswell, so Klien had to share his car with 2004 F3000 champion Vitantonio Liuzzi. At first it was announced that Klien and Liuzzi would swap about every few races, but in reality Klien was given far more time in the car than Liuzzi. Nevertheless, Liuzzi, rather than Klien, looks set to be given a permanent drive for 2006.

Related Topics:
Christian Klien - 2004 - F3000 - Vitantonio Liuzzi

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Another driver that Red Bull wants to promote is the aptly-named Scott Speed, who rose through the ranks in the American equivalent of Red Bull Junior Team, Red Bull Driver Search. The promising American driver has impressed onlookers with his performances in GP2 (although he is yet to win a race). Speed is also attractive to Red Bull because of the fact that he is an American, which could increase the profile of both Red Bull and Formula One in America, a market where the sport has struggled to make an impact. Speed was Red Bull Racing's third driver in 2005, and has also been confirmed as Red Bull's third and reserve driver for 2006 Formula One season.

Related Topics:
Scott Speed - Red Bull Driver Search - American - GP2 - Third driver - 2006 Formula One season

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On 23 April 2005, the team announced a deal to use Ferrari engines in 2006. This coincides with a rule change mandating the use of V8 engines, making it likely that both Red Bull Racing and Ferrari will be using the same specification engine.

Related Topics:
23 April - Ferrari - 2006 - V8 engine

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In the summer of 2005, Red Bull anounced that they had purchased the Minardi Formula One team, and it probably shall be known as Red Bull Light from 2006 onwards. However, Red Bull Light will use a limited V10 Cosworth, with Red Bull Racing using V8 Ferraris. At the moment it is unclear if Red Bull Light will stay on Bridgestone tyres, while Red Bull Racing is using Michelins. Red Bull Light's chassis will be based upon the current Minardi PS05.

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Red Bull Racing is now seen as politically close to Ferrari (much like Sauber used to be). It is one of only three teams (the others being Ferrari and Midland F1) to have signed the Concorde Agreement beyond 2007, guaranteeing its long-term involvement in Formula One.

Related Topics:
Sauber - Midland F1 - Concorde Agreement - 2007

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