Austrian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Red Bull

First quotes come from Red Bull, who are looking forward to the Austrian GP.

Sebastian Vettel - “I have great memories of the Red Bull Ring. I was 13 years old when I first drove around it. I had the chance to test a Formula car from the Auinger family. That is a huge step if you’re coming from a karting background. It was something completely new and it took me a while to get used to it. I’m really happy that we will race there. The circuit is actually very pretty, not only the track, but the whole area. The circuit’s set amid a beautiful natural landscape. There are not many distractions there - it’s just about racing. The Red Bull Ring is a short track, with only a few turns, but it’s very challenging. There are also a lot of elevation changes, which makes it interesting and fun. The fans will have a great time as every grandstand offers a great view of the circuit.”

Daniel Ricciardo - “It’s great to be going to Red Bull’s home race after an awesome weekend in Canada. I’ve only driven the Red Bull Ring on filming days, essentially a handful of laps without the out-and-out aggression that you’ll see at the Austrian Grand Prix weekend. It’s a tidy circuit, not the longest and not many corners, but what is there is good. Turn 1 is cool as it climbs up the hill. It looks tight, but actually isn’t. Turn 2 is quite a tight right-hand corner, going uphill and off-camber as well. Then it drops back down all the way through the rest of the track. It’s very odd going to what, essentially, is a new race but in a place where the racing history is firmly established. It sounds as though there will be a massive crowd up in the mountains and I’m sure the return of the Austrian Grand Prix will get off to a really good start.”

Article Written By: Amy Hawk.

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Quotes made by Drivers.

Canadian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Red Bull

First preview quotes for the Canadian GP come from the Infiniti Red Bull Racing team.

Sebastian Vettel - "Canada is a very demanding high-speed racing track, which is surrounded by rails and concrete walls. There is definitely a high risk potential, especially in Turn 15, where you will soon get to know the notorious 'Wall of Fame' should you be driving a few centimetres too far to the right. The first danger zone is already at the start. In the very narrow right-left passage, it's all about avoiding contact with the other cars, otherwise there will be a crash. It is not uncommon for the safety car to make an appearance at the Canadian Grand Prix. Before the Grand Prix, I'm travelling to Toronto to spend a day with Infiniti and their guests on Wednesday for an Infiniti driving day, which will be fun. I'll be performing a few Hot Laps with David Coulthard and some Infiniti guests."

Daniel Ricciardo - "I doubt anyone on the grid lacks motivation, but there's definitely a little extra edge to it at some circuits. They tend to be the ones that demand the most from you and hold real consequences from getting it wrong. Montreal definitely falls into that category. Each of the chicanes, the hairpin too, is an opportunity to make up, or lose, time but the crucial corner is probably the last one: you arrive at top speed so there's a lot to be gained in braking if you get that just right, and then the way you go over the kerbs is worth more time. The flip side is that it's very easy to get wrong and if you do then there's that big wall waiting. It's a clear choice: some guys will play it safe and sacrifice half a tenth to get through there cleanly, others who will take a risk and go flat out trying to find a little bit. The nearer you are, the faster you'll go. Give the wall a kiss and you feel pretty good, kiss it too hard and that's it!"

Article Written By: Amy Hawk.

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Quotes made by Drivers.

Monaco GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Red Bull

More quotes and these ones are from Redbull!

Sebastian Vettel - "Monaco is one of my favourite tracks, it's an absolute challenge. You cannot afford to make one single mistake, because you would easily crash into the railings. Overtaking is only possible with taking an extreme risk. The best place to overtake is before the harbour chicane when we exit the narrow tunnel at 300kph and race towards the first gear chicane. Other than that, it's all about patience in Monaco and hoping for complete reliability as the suspension and drive are massively in demand around this extreme, uneven rollercoaster of a circuit - it's immense. In the perfect situation, you would have had a good quali and start from the front. Monaco offers some really great memories with the team, especially when everyone ended up jumping in the pool and one year Mark and I even ended up in the harbour. It's very special in Monaco and it's the race where we have our Energy Station with its larger outside area floating in the harbour, it's a great, great event."

Daniel Ricciardo - "

In Monte Carlo it's impossible to do that calm, detached racing driver thing. Every year I'm determined I'm going to approach the weekend in a coldly logical way, and every year I end up bouncing up and down and getting excited. It's just amazing. The atmosphere in town and down at the harbour, the history of the race, the massive crowd, it's a real buzz. The track is properly old-school. Driving an F1 car anywhere is special, the speed, the power and the acceleration just blows you away. But here it's... cool. I know there's that quote about racing at Monaco being like riding a bicycle around your bathroom - well when I was a kid I used to love riding my little bike around inside the house. It was more fun, there were more obstacles and a bit more danger. That really is what this is like. Experience definitely helps: the driver can make a big difference if he knows the tricks that a fast lap demands."

Article Written By: Amy Hawk.

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Quotes made by Drivers.

Spanish GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Redbull

First preview quotes for the Spanish GP come from Redbull!

Sebastian Vettel - “Formula One returns to Europe with the Spanish GP. A nice side aspect of that is that we are back in the Energy Station, which provides a lot of space for us and the team - it will become a little bit like home over the next few weeks! The Circuit de Catalunya is varied with 180 degree bends, fast, sweeping corners and elevation changes. There isn’t much opportunity to overtake, so getting a good start position in qualifying will be crucial. The long, fast curves of Montmelo mean that it will suit a car with highly efficient aerodynamics. The track is very challenging on the tyres because of the same very fast corners, so lots of pit stops are likely in the race.”

Daniel Ricciardo - “I’ve always enjoyed the Circuit de Catalunya and think it’s a great track. It’s a ‘bit of everything’ circuit - which is why it’s proved so popular as a testing venue. The first sector is really nice, with the corners all flowing together and the second sector, while a bit more technical, is also really interesting. The final sector is less good but you can understand why they changed it; I assume the old layout was more exciting. It’s a good track to defend on, but one that demands a lot of concentration and the right set-up. The trade-off is that you need fairly low downforce on the long main straight but that compromises the rest of your lap and makes the car difficult to control. Finding the right balance isn’t simple.”

Article Written By: Amy Hawk.

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Quotes made by Drivers.

Chinese GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Redbull

Next preview quotes are from Redbull.

Sebastian Vettel -"The Grand Prix in China is still something special for me, because I won my first race there with Red Bull Racing in 2009. Due to its size, the circuit is unique. The wide stretches mean there are many possible places and opportunities to overtake. Also, the large run-off areas ensure the highest standard of safety. Even the usually narrow pit complex offers plenty of space in Shanghai. As far as the city of Shanghai goes, if I have time to go into the city I like to go to the Bund."

Daniel Ricciardo - "Shanghai is a very open, very wide circuit but it does flow nicely and the middle sector is a lot of fun. The back straight provides a good overtaking opportunity into the hairpin but it is quite long; I always think back to when I came here as a kid in Formula BMW – massive hair and lots of enthusiasm – and trust me, then, it was the sort of straight where I’d have definitely been reaching for a book if I’d had one! It’s a bit different driving it in an F1 car. The circuit has a decent mix of low- and high-speed corners and one of the key things is to have a set-up that gives you good traction out of the two tight ‘snail’ corners."

Article Written By: Amy Hawk.
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Quotes made by Drivers.

Appeal for Red Bull will be heard in April

After the Australian GP, Daniel Ricciardo was disqualified and stripped from his Second-Place-Podium-Finish when it was found out that he been running with the cars Fuel exceeding the maximum amount allowed. Red Bull racing have appealed the case, saying that the fuel level was 'Legal' and that Ricciardo was not driving with an illegal amount of fuel.

The appeal will be heard in Paris, France on April 14th.

Article Written By: Amy Hawk.
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Daniel Ricciardo will replace Mark Webber in 2014

Earlier this year it was announced that Mark Webber would retire from Formula 1 at the end of 2013 and go to race for Le Mans. While most of the commotion was filled sadness about Mark no longer driving for Red Bull... There was also 1 other thing on peoples minds: Who would get his seat in 2014?

Within the first few days of the announcement, the most rumoured about replacement was Lotus-Renault driver, Kimi Raikkonen. There was also a list of other drivers who seemed they'd be in contention for replacing Webber. Those mentioned, included: Daniel Ricciardo, Jenson Button, Nico Hulkenberg, Paul Di Resta, Fernando Alonso, Jean-Eric Vergne and Pastor Maldonado. Of course, most people stuck with Kimi Raikkonen as the main choice.

Daniel Ricciardo, from Toro Rosso was also very highly talked about for the seat, People were very anxious for any confirmed announcements regarding this situation. Most assumed there would be a choice made over the Summer break and rumours broke out that Red Bull would announce their new driver sometimes during the Belgian GP weekend.. But that weekend came and went without any word about the situation and people went right back to taking anxious guesses.

Finally after two more weeks, Christian Horner and the Red Bull team announced publicly that Daniel Ricciardo would officially be taking Mark Webber's place in 2014. Daniel later also confirmed this on twitter, very happily.



Article Written By: Amy Hawk.