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.

Feature: Sebastian Vettel - German Wonder.

 If there's one name that's really been talked about this year, it's Sebastian Vettel, the 26-Year-Old Redbull Racing driver from Heppenheim, Germany. Vettel was young when he began Karting. At the age of 11 he found himsellf accepted into 'The Redbull Junior Team'. After racing for other various series & teams, BMW Sauber let him have his first race when Robert Kubica was unable to race in The United States Grand Prix, after an accident during the Canadian Grand Prix.

    Later on he moved on to become a driver for Toro Rosso, in place of Scott Speed, who did not even comlete the full season due to issues he had with the team. Vettel did okay during what was left of the 2007 Season. His best result was 4th. One of his most noted races during that season was the Japanese GP, which was held in Fuji. He crashed into Mark Webber and both of them had to retired from the race. Before that crash, he'd been holding 3rd. His punishment was a 10-Place-Grid-Penalt for the Chinese Grand Prix which took place the following weekend.

    His 2008 Season with Toro Rosso stared out terribly when he retired from the first 4 races on the Calander. He finished 17th in the Turkish Grand Prix and then scored points in Monaco, finishing in 5th. Vettel then retired during the British GP and the Hungarian Grand Prix. Finally, in Italy, Vettel won his first Formula1 Grand Prix and also broke a record for youngest driver to win an F1 race, at 21 Years/74 Days. He continued to get consitant finishes for the rest of the season.

    In 2009, Vettel took David Coulthard's seat at Redbull Racing. The first two races he had to retire. He then won in China. He didn't win again until the British Grand Prix. The same results were done in Japan and Abu Dhabi. It wasn't a bad season for him and Redbull was impressed.

     Redbull kept Vettel in 2010. He got Pole Positon in the first race of the Season, but finished in 4th. He went on to retire in the Australian Grand Prix, then win in Malaysia. He got Podium in both Spain and Monaco, before retiring again in Turkey. He didn't win again until the European Grand Prix. He won 3 more races that year including; Japan. Brazil and Abu Dhabi. In result, he won his first F1 Drivers Championship and became the youngest to ever do so.

    He continued to race for Redbull in the 2011 Season. Winning the first two races felt incredible to him and the team. Even more incredible, after finishing Second in China, he then won Turkey, Spain and Monaco Back-To-Back, finished Second in Canada and then won again in Europe. In the rest of the season, he ended up winning 5 more races including; Belgium, Italy, Singapore, Korea and India. He once again won The Drivers Championship, making it 2 years in a row.

  Still sticking with Redbull in 2012, Vettel didn't have as good as a year as in 2011. He only won 5 races out of the 20 on the calander. His overall results were consistant though and he only retired from 2 races. Despite the struggles, he got his Third Drivers Championship win in a row. He beat the late Ayrton Senna's record for it as well, as youngest Triple-World-Champion.

 Vettel ended up staying with Redbull last year in 2013 and acheived a huge goal with winning a 4th Drivers Championship in a row. The only race he retired from was the British GP with a tire blow-out and his lowest points finish of the year was only 4th. That's some incredible consistancy and impecible driving from the young German.

 Vettel continues to stay with Redbull for this year and is looking forward to the start of the F1 season. So, now Let's just go over some of his stats.

World Championships: 4
Races Won: 39.
Podiums: 62.
Fastest Laps: 22.
Pole Positions: 45
Total Points Tally: 1,451.

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Article Written By: Amy Hawk
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Special Thanks and Credit To: Emily Tydell