FRIDAY, 3 JULY, 2020
AN ALMOST INDEPENDENT F1 NEWSPAPER
BACK ON TRACK
F1 2020 POWERS UP AT THE RED BULL RING
02 Starting Line F1 Spielberg
3 July, 2020  The Red Bulletin
F1 Spielberg Starting Line 03
The Red Bulletin 3 July, 2020
Dear Formula 1 fans, In total, 217 days will have elapsed between the last Formula 1 race of 2019 and the first race this year, which represents the longest hiatus in the history of the championship. A lot of unpleasant things have happened in the interim, but now we’re looking forward instead of in the rear-view mirror. It’s good that things are starting up again and good that we haven’t let this defeat us. It is with both humility and great pride that we now get to write a small part of motorsport history at Spielberg in the green heart of Austria. It is the largest global event since the crisis began, representing the return to freedom that we deserve. It is the start of a new Formula 1 World Championship that many had written off. It will be the first double grand prix Austria. It means entering uncharted territory, which is exactly the sort of challenge that has always given us particular motivation. That’s how we do things: with joy, optimism and tongue in cheek, which incidentally, was a philosophy of life Jochen Rindt was famed for. Exactly 50 years ago this Sunday, he won the French Grand Prix and thus laid the foundation of his world championship title. So, would he have liked what we have lined up for this week and next? We think he would and we wish you an exciting season-opening Formula 1 weekend, which includes this Red Bulletin Special. From today, on every day of each race weekend here in Austria, it will give you a glimpse behind the scenes at the elite level of the sport and might even bring the odd smile to your face.
GETTY IMAGES, GÉRARD RANCINAN
DIETRICH MATESCHITZ
Happy reading! Dietrich Mateschitz
04 Pacesetter F1 Spielberg
3 July, 2020 The Red Bulletin
BULLHORN: ALEX ALBON
The Aston Martin Red Bull Racing driver on sim racing, keeping his ‘racing mind’ active and taking his first F1 win – in the virtual world
L
ike many F1 drivers, over the past few months I got my racing fix via Esports, competing in the virtual grands prix organised by Formula 1. And while it can’t come close to the feeling of driving an actual racing car, it turned out to be a hugely entertaining way of keeping my eye in and battling with some of the guys I’ll be racing for real in Austria this weekend. Unlike some of the other drivers, Max and Lando for example, I didn’t have an awful lot of experience with sim racing prior to the shutdown. I played a lot of Call of Duty when I was young, but driving games weren’t something I got involved in. I didn’t have a simulator at home, but that all changed when this series came up and now I have to say that I really enjoy it. The enforced break has been tough for everyone and to have the opportunity to get involved in any kind of racing has been great – and I think that goes for all the drivers who took part. We could be playing Fortnite, F1 or football, it wouldn’t matter – we’d still be fiercely competitive. Even though we know it’s not the real thing, it still has a steering wheel and pedals and all we want to do is beat each other. In the initial stages of the competition, we didn’t take it too seriously and there was a fair bit of wheel-banging and maybe a little disregard for the finer points of the regulations! But, as the races have gone one, we’ve all started to take it a lot more seriously. Suddenly, no one wanted to reveal their practice lap times anymore. There was an open lobby and when this started we would all just join and get on the same track. But after a while, no one was joining anymore and everyone was keeping his times quiet until the real thing. But while we did get more serious, there was still a bit of fun happening. For example, if full damage had been on, I don’t think any of us would have finished. It was like pinball in Monaco. There were cars in the harbour! It was nice to do reasonably well in it, too. I had a few podiums along the way and picked up my first win in the virtual race in Brazil, which was good. Lots of people were asking me whether it felt like some sort of payback after missing out on the podium in São Paulo last year when I got hit by Lewis, but it wasn’t like that at all. It was good fun, and of course there was plenty of chatter online in the final laps, with lots of people messaging ‘Hamilton’s coming!’ and things like that.
Red Bull Racing driver Alexander Albon finished second overall in the Formula 1 Esports championship behind his good friend George Russell. Born in London, Alex races under the flag of Thailand. He made his F1 debut in 2019 with Scuderia Toro Rosso before graduating to Red Bull Racing at the Belgian Grand Prix.
IMPRINT Editor-in-Chief Alexander Macheck Deputy Editors-in-Chief Justin Hynes, Werner Jessner Creative Director Erik Turek Art Directors Marion Bernert-Thomann, Miles English, Kasimir Reimann Head of Photography Eva Kerschbaum Production Editor Marion Lukas-Wildmann Managing Editor Ulrich Corazza Graphic Design Martina de Carvalho-Hutter, Kevin Goll Picture Editors Tahira Mirza, Rudi Übelhör General Manager & Publisher Andreas Kornhofer Managing Director Stefan Ebner Head of Media Sales & Partnerships Lukas Scharmbacher Project Management Bernhard Schmied, Sara Varming, Anna-Lucia Wilczek Executive Creative Director Markus Kietreiber Head of Production Veronika Felder Production Friedrich Indich, Walter O. Sádaba, Sabine Wessig Reproduction Clemens Ragotzky (Ltg.), Josef Mühlbacher Sub Editor Hans Fleissner (Ltg.), Petra Hannert, Paul Keith Printer 1a druck Judenburg, Aichfelder Druck Ges.m.b.H., A-8750 Judenburg Editorial office Heinrich-Collin-Straße 1, A-1140 Wien Tel +43 1 90221-0 Web redbulletin.com Publisher Red Bull Media House GmbH, Oberst-Lepperdinger-Straße 11–15, A-5071 Wals bei Salzburg, FN 297115i, Landesgericht Salzburg, ATU63611700 Chief Executive Officers Dkfm. Dietrich Mateschitz, Dietmar Otti, Christopher Reindl, Marcus Weber
SUBSCRIBE NOW: GETREDBULLETIN.COM
ALEX ALBON
Does sim racing help you to stay sharp? In terms of actual driving techniques, I’d say not too much, but it does help in terms of mind set. When you’re racing you’re always thinking, telling yourself ‘OK, I need to brake two metres later here, I need to turn in a bit earlier there, take this kerb harder, try this, try that’. It’s the same in sim racing: you’re thinking all the time. You transition really well from that, mentally, to real driving. I think we all have what I like to call a ‘racing mind’ and sim racing is good for keeping it sharp. Also, it’s just nice to feel the pressure. I think we all thrive on that intensity, the desire to do well, and we need the buzz competition gives us. We need to push ourselves and it does give you that feeling. Not as acutely, but it’s still there. However, while I’ve really enjoyed the sim racing, it’s always been a way to fill a hole in the absence of the real thing. Now, though, it’s almost time to kick off the season for real and I cannot wait. It’s going to be an intense campaign and I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a degree of nervousness after the long break. It’s a little bit of a voyage into the unknown. But I’m ready, the whole team is ready and I can’t wait to see how this season plays out.
TEAM ROTTENSTEINER RED BULL (COVER), YANN LEGENDRE
‘It was like pinball in Monaco!’
F1 Spielberg Refresher 05
The Red Bulletin 3 July, 2020
THE THINGS WE FORGOT ABOUT F1 Three months ago, we had a totally different set of racing priorities. Today, who can even remember what those were? Well, here’s a reminder…
NEW RACES!
Back in the winter, we were excited about a trip to Vietnam and were also preparing to go to Zandvoort. Both of those things have sadly fallen by the wayside – but you can recreate the experience by standing in a hot shower with your clothes on for five days before painting yourself bright orange and sitting in a traffic jam for 48 hours while moaning about paying €1500 a night to sleep in someone’s outdoor privy.
THE PECKING ORDE
R About the only thin g that stopped Ferrari from finding a burning bag of koala poo on their hospitality doorstep in Melbourne was th e fact they didn’t look particularly co mpetitive in winter testing – but testin g can be deceptive . In case you’ve forg otten how the rest shaped up, Mercede s looked hard to beat (yet again); Re d Bull Racing and McLaren looked de cent, and Racing Point… well, they’re next on our list.
CTION A PRIVATE FUNi were doing
Ferrar Last season, us with their engine ysterio something m d them not to do again. ke that the FIA as as is a closely-guarded w at a large Quite what th s it concealed ies? ap h ix secret. Per p ed by magical care of wheel power ke ta n , it’s all been Whatever it is lement’. Rumours that tt in a ‘private se roup of faerie folk are g ed tl n ru g sit-in in a dis rld’s smallest tiated. o w e th g in stag bstan uld not be su Maranello co
HOT PINK
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then Racing Point are flattering the pants off Mercedes right now. They have a Mercedes’ engine, gearbox and hydraulics; they use the Mercedes wind tunnel, and now they’re paying tribute to Mercedes’ 2019 bodywork and packaging – but cunningly disguise that by painting it bright pink. Clever stuff…
MUSICAL COCK
PITS? With the contra cts of more than half the grid com ing to an end, th e 2020 season pr omised a specta cular silly season. Rum ours, counterrumours, driver managers spotte d in unlikely locations , tortuous press conferences whe re a squirming driver would his swear loyalty to his current employer s while waving a banner saying ‘c ome and get me’ … we had it all to lo ok forward to. Now, three quar ters of the deals are done before we’ ve even turned a wheel. What ar e the media supposed to fabr icate now, you selfish b*** ***s? GADGETS AN
SHUTTERSTOCK
MATT YOUSON
D GIMMICKS The award for th e latest must-hav e techno marvel that’s al so utterly insane goes to Mercedes for th eir fancy steerin g gizmo. Having decided that countless pa ddles, levers, dials and blinking lights on F1 steering wheels aren’t complicat enough, they’ve ed invented one th at goes in and out, as well as round and ro und. It can also open portal s to other dimen sions, make tea and po st videos on TikT ok.
ESTEBAN VS DA In the ‘team-m NIEL ates-most-lik ely-to-knock other’ league -lumps-off-e table, Daniel achRic looked like a case of ‘when ciardo and Esteban Oco n an irresistible another irresi force meets… st they’ll have to ible force’ in the making .O pretend to p lay nicely bec f course, plan on havin ause Renault g them as te am-mates fo r a long ti… o h.
06 Gallery F1 Spielberg
3 July, 2020 The Red Bulletin
e-built FRESH START: The first-ever start on the purpos circuit. g Zeltwe old the ed replac which g, eichrin Österr
WILD TIMES
SUPERFAN: Frank Williams shows his loyalty. He and Jochen had become close friends as they forged their careers in junior formulas.
A look back to the first Formula 1 race held on the then brand-new Österreichring 50 years ago.
: Rindt’s RUNNING REPAIRS at his wn do ke Lotus 72 bro the last race home race. It was car alive. at which he left the
PICTURE PERFECT: It may be before GoPros and 5K but Formula 1 was still fabulously cinematic – although taking a selfie wasn’t quite so easy.
WERNER JESSNER
-off E: No Armco or run SAFETY ’70S ST YL t go les Mi hn Jo te ma but Rindt’s teamce. his Lotus in one pie out of the wreck of
MOTORSPORTARCHIV, IMAGO
TOUCHING: Jacky Ickx wins for Ferrari, to the delight of the Tifosi but to the dismay of the locals who had hoped to see pole-sitter Jochen Rindt on the top step.
F1 Spielberg Gallery 07
The Red Bulletin 3 July, 2020
FAST BUCKS: The x Austrian Grand Pri quickly became a valuable source of income for families living in the Mur valley.
CLOSE SHAVE: Flamboyant Swiss Clay Regazzoni in his rookie season at the age of 30. That trademark moustache – and his partnership with Niki Lauda – came later. DRIVERS’ PARADE: Rindt waves to the enthusiastic fans at his home grand prix. Buggies were the must-have accessory at the time. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said of the driver’s beach hat.
MOTORSPORTARCHIV
COOL IN THE SHADE: Defending Formula 1 world champion Jackie Stewart and Tyrrell teammate François Cevert – then a rookie at his fifth grand prix – look cool as they take shelter from the fierce sun.
HISTORIC: The fans loved the new circuit and so did many of the drivers. Jean-Pierre Beltoise in the Matra takes the chequered flag in sixth to take the last championship point of the weekend.
08 Quotabull F1 Spielberg
3 July, 2020 The Red Bulletin
A R O F E R A P E R P
E G N E CHALL
ove and m e h t n o s r e alendar, driv rs, Aston Martin c d e k c a p a h Wit losed doo c d in h HORNER e b N n IA T io it IS t R e H p C m l co m principa a e t g e says, in h c , t a u R B ll . u e p B a d c e s R ok F1 land lo w e n contenders a le o t it t s e n b o t r e tu r m e m o m e n tu h t s a h m a e t th e HY Words JUSTIN
NES
more of them than I’ve ever had certainly in the children’s lifetime. The downside has been the lack of racing and wanting to get out there and compete.” That, of course, is all about to change and this weekend Horner will lead his squad into the heat of an intense, densely-packed 2020 championship battle that starts at the Red Bull Ring with a double-header of races that will take place behind closed doors. Once again, it’s a world away from the last two times Red Bull Racing competed
GETTY IMAGES, MOTORSPORT IMAGES, GEPA IMAGES, SHUTTERSTOCK
O
n most days, the normal habitat of a Formula 1 team principal is the kill-or-be-killed environment of the sport’s notorious shark pool: navigating the choppy waters of the political paddock’s Machiavellian machinations, its tortuous financial wrangling and the squalls of vicious rumours that blow up with furious regularity along the world’s most competitive street. For the past three months, however, there’s been a new normal at work in F1, and when Christian Horner joins the call to discuss the shape of Formula 1 in the wake of the recent shutdown, the soundtrack is not the Doppler whine of spooled-up turbos flashing by but the gentle sound of sheep bleating and the wind rustling in the trees. “Can your hear me OK?” he asks. “We’ve had lambing season and now we’re separating the lambs from their mothers. Not exactly the normal office environment!” But while the team boss’s farming activities are a world away from the fast pace of the F1 paddock, the past few months haven’t been entirely restful. “It’s been an interesting period because it’s been incredibly busy on the one hand with the revisions to the regulations that either have been – or are in the process of being – introduced. There’s been a lot of work going in on that side,” he says. “The upside has been more time in one place with your family around you. I’ve seen
The Red Bulletin 3 July, 2020
F1 Spielberg Quotabull 09
‘MAX SCORED TWO GREAT WINS HERE – THE LAST ONE WAS LIKE A FAIRY TALE’
10 Quotabull F1 Spielberg
3 July, 2020 The Red Bulletin
Christian Horner leads the Red Bull Racing team as they look for their third (and maybe fourth) consecutive win at their home race.
at its home venue, when a sea of orangeclad fans celebrated a brace of victories for Max Verstappen and the team, and Horner admits that while the key thing remains to start the season, the lack of fans at opening rounds will feel strange. “I think it will feel a bit surreal, but I think when it comes to the racing we’ll end up so focused on the race… You’re not really aware until the end of the race of the crowd or the reaction because you are so in the zone of what’s going on with your cars and the strategy and so on. “It’s the same for the drivers. I think it will be more the build-up to the race and the aftermath that will perhaps feel a little surreal, but once those red lights go out, it will be business as usual.”
B
usiness as usual for the team at the Red Bull Ring – at least in recent years – has been victory. “Well, this track has been kind to us for the last couple of years and we’ve been very competitive here,” Horner admits. “And Max has scored two great wins, the most recent of which was a fairy tale performance. “He had to pass every single competitor and it got pretty exciting towards the end of the race. His final move on the track past [Ferrari driver] Charles Leclerc was very hard earned. So topping that will be very difficult, but we are determined and Austria is a good place for us to be starting.” Verstappen’s 2019 performance at Spielberg was a highlight of the 22-year-old Dutch driver’s finest F1 season to date – a campaign in which he took three wins, six other podium finishes and finished third in the Drivers’ Standings. Now, with broad continuity in the technical regulations from 2019 to this year, Horner believes this year’s RB16 should afford Verstappen his best chance yet of mounting a serious challenge for the title. “I hope so,” says the team boss. “We feel we’ve made good progress [with the RB16]. It’s our second year with Honda so we’re
more integrated with them. It feels like we’ve been building momentum over the last 12 months, and we really want to put that to good use. “Our team is settled, fixed. There’s still some uncertainty around our competitors, and hopefully we can take that continuity into this year.” The RB16 last ran on February 28, when Verstappen set a time just seven hundredths of a second off the pace of that test’s fastest man, Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas. Since then the sport has hibernated through a 63-day shutdown, in which no work could be conducted on the cars, and resumed work ahead of a season start that will see teams take on eight races in another 63-day burst. “It’s going to be very, very busy,” Horner admits. “The races are coming thick and fast, but effectively we will be starting with the Vietnam upgrades that we had scheduled. We’ll see how that performs, the data that provides and that will drive the development of what comes next.” But is the schedule going to stretch the
‘MAX SCORED TWO GREAT WINS HERE – THE LAST ONE WAS LIKE A FAIRY TALE’ manufacturing capacity of the team to the maximum as well as their ability to innovate towards a competitive advantage? “Actually I’m sure the development pace will be just as busy [as normal]. And because so much of it will carry over from 2020 into 2021, this car will be relevant for next year.” While the cars will largely remain unchanged for 2021, team line-ups will be markedly different and the recent shutdown was enlivened by a series of high profile moves. Sebastian Vettel announced he will leave Ferrari at the close of this season, Carlos Sainz was revealed as the four‑time champion’s replacement and Daniel Ricciardo told the world he would be leaving Renault
The Red Bulletin 3 July, 2020
F1 Spielberg Quotabull 11
GETTY IMAGES, MOTORSPORT IMAGES
‘OUR TARGET IS TO BE AS COMPETITIVE AS WE CAN AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN’ to take up the Spaniard’s seat at McLaren. With all three having been part of the Red Bull stable in the past, Horner knows each driver well but says he was surprised by the developments. “Considering we haven’t even run a race yet there’s been a large amount of activity,” he laughs. “Sebastian we know very well. I’m sure he thought long and hard about his decision, and you have to respect it. “He’s a great asset to Formula 1 – a fourtime World Champion. He’s achieved so much in his career, it would be strange for him not to be there. “But in the end, time doesn’t stop and things move on. There’s always another talent coming. Whatever he chooses to do, Formula 1 will benefit from him being there. But ultimately if he chooses to leave the sport, it will continue and the next talents will start to emerge. “With Daniel, obviously it is quite soon to be moving after only one season of racing at Renault, but again he will have had his reasons behind that change. “It’s a bit of a kick in the teeth for Renault, but hopefully he’ll be competitive. He’s a big character and he’s been very subdued over the last 12 months.” The 2021 campaign remains a distant target, however. Before then, there remains what promises to be one of F1’s most unusual seasons as teams steam into a barrage of consecutive race weekends followed by an uncertain finale. In light of that is this a sprint to the flag rather than the gruelling marathon that makes up a normal F1 season? “It’s certainly very different and whoever copes best with the challenges that this season throws best will come out on top. Red Bull has always proven to be a team that adapts quickly and well. So I see it as an opportunity rather than a disadvantage.” Does that mean getting back to business as usual at Spielberg? “I’ve learned my lessons the hard way and I’m not going to make any predictions,” laughs Horner. “Our target is to be as competitive as we can as quickly as we can, and hopefully that starts with our home grand prix.” And with that aim firmly stated, F1’s hiatus comes to an end. The sport might be visiting the Red Bull Ring in strange times but when the lights go out on Sunday, normal service will be resumed.
12 Pass Times F1 Spielberg
3 July, 2020 The Red Bulletin
HOME IMPROVEMENT COPING WITH CABIN FEVER
Most F1 personnel have taken the classic survival route during the enforced break: one week of frantic DIY followed by months of sitting around in their underwear, eating cereal and watching daytime TV. Not the drivers, though! F1’s top guns constantly strive to sharpen their razor-sharp focus. But what self-improvement exercises might they have undertaken? Here are a few ideas… CARLOS SAINZ: ITALIAN LESSONS
KIMI RÄIKKÖNEN: JUST WAITING Kimi doesn’t really know the season’s been on hold – although he does occasionally stop to wonder why he can’t remember last weekend’s race. He thinks he’s probably doing quite well, but in the meantime he’s been keeping himself busy by sitting in the corner, staring into space and patiently waiting until it’s time to go to Spa-Francorchamps. We are going to Spa, aren’t we?
MATT YOUSON, JUSTIN HYNES
VINZ SCHWARZBAUER/AGENTAZUR.COM
To prepare for his 2021 switch from McLaren to Ferrari, Carlos has been brushing up on his language skills by studying ‘Italian for Racing – or Parla Italiano Rapidamente’ (only available from Bulletin Books). So far, the badly translated phrases he’s mastered are: Sono stanco! Ottieni il ragazzo d’oro per farlo! (I’m tired, get the Golden Child to do it!); Questa galleria del vento sembra molto elegante – perché ci sono dei tassi che la abitano? (This wind tunnel looks very stylish – why are there badgers living in it?) and C’è un sacco di olio che stai mettendo nel motore; perde? (That’s an awful lot of oil you’re putting in the engine; is it leaking?)
The Red Bulletin 3 July, 2020
F1 Spielberg Pass TImes 13
SEBASTIAN VETTEL: MOTORCYLE REPAIR SHOP It’s a well known fact that Seb loves vintage motorcycles and, like the everyman he appears to be, he’s invested heavily in a hobby that allows him to hide in a shed, tinker with bits of old machinery and avoid contact with all other human beings for long periods – a practice also known as ‘getting some bloody peace and quiet’. In fact, lockdown was the perfect opportunity for him to expand his passion for restoring old Suzuki T 500s or Kawasaki H2 750s and turn it into a viable business. Now, brown coat on and oily rag in pocket, the proprietor of Vettel’s Vintage Velocipedes is just the man to take one look at your 1988 BMW K1, whistle through his teeth and offer to fully restore it for a king’s ransom. Plus, you never know, maybe a parallel career might come in handy in the future.
DANIEL RICCIARDO: WHATEVER HE WANTS Social distancing is a lot easier when you live on a farm miles away from civilisation – or whatever passes for civilisation in Western Australia. Daniel’s spent his time off messing about on dirt bikes, driving tractors, singing in a loud falsetto and growing extravagant facial hair. Don’t believe the flattering Instagram videos though, ’cos they’ve been digitally enhanced, using body doubles. Vicious rumour suggests he’s been wearing the same trackie daks for three months, cuts his own hair and is attempting to live entirely on Pringles and Crown lager. He now weighs about the same as a pregnant hippo. Albeit a hippo with winning smile. Clearly fake news.
14 Fast Fashion F1 Spielberg
3 July, 2020 The Red Bulletin
ALL THE GEAR,
NO IDEA
ANDREAS WOLLINGER
See you, Jackie
When it comes to engineering and Formula 1, the Scots have a proud pedigree, one that Jackie Stewart and his son Paul tried to honour when they established Stewart Grand Prix in the late ’90s. While the wee Stewart Tartan pennant on the shirts subtly flew the flag, the Tartan Trews were a step too far.
… ’cos I hope you kept the receipt. One advantage of a race helmet is at least it keeps a lid on disastrous headwear like these sported by Niki Lau da – photographed here bac k in 1973. A taste for extravagant hats maybe a trend he passed on to his friend Lewis Ham ilton!
GETTY IMAGES, KRÄLING BILDAGENTUR
Where did you get that hat?
F1 Spielberg Mode 15
The Red Bulletin 3 July, 2020
Fast and Furryous
Fashion is fleeting, but style is timeless. Here’s Jochen Rindt rocking a look that hasn’t aged well: head-to-toe fur. It’s a look that says: ‘What? I just found it in front of the fireplace this morning.’
Speedy Gonzales Organisers of the Mexican Grand Prix needed a mascot and it looks like they wasted no time coming up with Mario Achi – who’s clearly The Stig in a sombrero with some hasty embroidery added to his race suit. ¡Ay Chihuaha!
rn Feeling the bue balance at
ship was in th The champion h Africa of 1983 in Sout ce ra al e the fin it looks like th t ul na Re at – but down e beach. th at ai br a r team is off fo g red, it Prost was seein If driver Alain urn. nb su ly in rta was almost ce
GEPA, PETER NYGAARD, HOCH ZWEI, APA PICTUREDESK/AFP
Ferrari Red Riding Hood (Gotland, Sweden) Pippi Longstocking is full of joy because… oh no, sorry, that’s Luca di Montezemolo letting his hair down to celebrate winning the 2000 Constructors’ title.
FULL OF WIIINGS. FREE OF SUGAR.
RBATSE-00002 Keyvisual ED + SF Anzeige EN 202x287+5_l2.indd 1
19.06.20 16:59