red bull racing car in the pits with the team

A relatively ‘new’ team in Formula One, Red Bull Racing was formed in 2005. The team is based in the UK and races under an Austrian licence. Team Principal Christian Horner has been with Red Bull Racing from its inception.

But from where did the team emerge? Its origins can be found in the Stewart Grand Prix that began in 1997 – Jackie Stewart sold his team to the Ford Motor Company in 1999 and it was rebranded as Jaguar Racing.

Despite drivers including Eddie Irvine, Johnny Herbert, Christian Klien and Mark Webber the team struggled to achieve any real successes and was eventually sold to Red Bull in September 2004.

Red Bull had previously sponsored Sauber between 1994 and 2004 – so the purchase didn’t ‘come out of nowhere’ for the drinks company.

Red Bull also run a young drivers programme: the Red Bull Junior Team and they still sponsor several drivers/teams in Formula Two.

2005:

The beginning. Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz apparently wanted Gerhard Berger to assist the team during its debut season. In the event, the experienced David Coulthard and Christian Klien (Vitantonio Livizzi shared 2nd but only appeared 4 times) would be the team drivers.

For continuity, Red Bull would use Cosworth engines as Jaguar Racing had done previously.

Compared to its previous incarnation Jaguar Racing, the new team achieved great success in its debut season – scoring more points in 2005 than Jaguar did in 2003 & 2004 combined. They ran 6th in the Constructors’ Championship for much of the season, eventually finishing 7th.

2006:

Red Bull would use Ferrari engines for 2006, but maintain the Michelin tyres – rather than the Bridgestones that Ferrari used.

The new car - the RB2 - was a ‘sexy looking thing’ according to Coulthard after the first few laps, but it suffered numerous overheating and cooling problems in testing.

Before the Monaco Grand Prix, Christian Horner stated that if one of the cars were to finish on the podium he would jump into the track-side pool naked. Coulthard came 3rd and Horner made good on his promise wearing only a red cape.

Coulthard started last in Montreal – but managed to achieve 10th (and a point) after a decent drive.

Red Bull finished the season 7th in the Constructors’ Championship for the second year in a row.

2007:

Another year, another engine – this time Renault. Mark Webber replaced Klien and Red Bull Racing officially became an Austrian Constructor.

The Melbourne Grand Prix was difficult. Webber qualified in 7th but finished 13th due to a fuel flap issue – that initially didn’t open, then stayed open -creating extra drag. Coulthard crashed out.

Malaysia followed a similar pattern.

Bahrain saw an improved pace – with Coulthard running in 7th and Webber in 8th before reliability issues put them both out.

After Coulthard set the fastest lap in testing at the new Barcelona track layout and then came 5th in Spain (despite gearbox issues) the team began to feel optimistic – perhaps they were turning a corner?

The European Grand Prix saw Webber finished 3rd and Coulthard 5th - despite the latter starting 20th on the grid!

In Japan, Webber could almost ‘smell’ victory before crashing out with Sebastian Vettel. Coulthard finished 4th.

Red Bull finished 5th in the Constructors’ Championship with 24 points.


side view of a red bull f1 car

2008:

By the halfway point of the seasons – the team had scored 24 points – the total of the previous season. Reliability issues appeared to have been resolved.

But then, Red Bull scored just 5 points in the last 10 races.

Coulthard announced his retirement from Formula One – but failed to finish on a high – at the final race in Brazil he was out at the 2nd corner.

Red Bull finished the season a familiar 7th in the Constructors’ Championship.

2009:

An impressive year started with the new RB5 chassis being introduced with a 3D computer generated video narrated by the team’s newest recruit Sebastian Vettel.

At the 3rd race of the season in China, Vettel took pole and the win. Webber started in 3rd and finished 2nd. The first ever win for Red Bull Racing – and a 1-2 to boot!

The following race in Bahrain – Vettel took 2nd. At the Spanish Grand Prix Vettel finished 3rd, with Webber 4th. At Silverstone Vettel won from pole.

Another 1-2 in Germany: Webber achieved his first ever Formula One win and Vettel took 2nd.

At the Brazilian Grand Prix Webber took his 2nd career win, before another 1-2 at the final race in Abu Dhabi – this time Vettel was 1st and Webber 2nd.

Vettel finished 2nd in the Drivers’ Championship with 84 points. Webber was 4th with 69.5 points.

Red Bull finished 2nd in the Constructors’ Championship with 153.5 points.

2010:

Webber and Vettel remained, as did engine supplier Renault.

During the Bahrain opener, Vettel led the race from pole until a spark-plug failure slowed his progress and he finished in 4th. Webber started in 6th and finished 8th.

The Australian Grand Prix saw Vettel in pole and leading until a vibration issue with the front wheel, then brake failure forced him to retire. Not a good race for Webber either - wheelspin at the start lost him a place and further errors lost some more. Then he crashed with Hamilton, had to pit to replace his front wing and eventually finished 9th.

Malaysia was an improvement, with Vettel taking the win and Webber finishing 2nd.

In Spain – Webber finished 1st (from pole) and Vettel finished 3rd.

Another 1-2: Webber converted another pole into a win in Monaco, Vettel came in 2nd.

At this point Webber was leading the Drivers’ Championship and Red Bull the Constructors’ Championship.

The Turkish Grand Prix saw another pole for Webber (Red Bull’s 7th consecutive pole) with Vettel starting 3rd. They were running in 1st and 2nd before a collision (after Vettel attempted an overtake) between the two drivers forced Vettel to retire. Webber finished 3rd.

Vettel won from pole at the European Grand Prix in Valencia, while Webber won the following race at Silverstone. Vettel had started in pole at Silverstone, but a puncture put him at the back - and he could only finish 7th.

Another pole for Vettel in Germany – but he couldn’t convert this to a win – and finished 3rd. The same happened in Hungary, where teammate Webber took the win from 2nd on the grid.

At the Belgian Grand Prix, Webber started in pole and finished 2nd.

The Korean Grand Prix saw Vettel achieve Red Bull’s 19th pole position. But the race didn’t go to plan. Webber spun and hit a wall, then Nico Rosberg – retiring on Lap 18. Vettel was in the lead until his engine failed with 10 laps to go. The team’s first double retirement since the Australian Grand Prix in 2008.

At the Brazilian Grand Prix, Red Bull racing became Constructors’ Champions for the first time – after Vettel finished 1st and Webber 2nd.

Vettel won the final race in Abu Dhabi and with it the Drivers’ Championship.

Red Bull achieved an incredible 15 pole positions this season: Vettel with 10, Webber 5. And 6 fastest laps - split evenly between the two drivers.


red bull formula one car racing at the grand prix

2011:

Vettel won 11 races, 15 poles and the Drivers’ Championship with 392 points. Webber came 3rd with 258 points.

Red Bull won the Constructors’ Championship with 650 points.

2012:

Vettel won the Drivers’ Championship for the 3rd consecutive year and in doing so became the youngest triple champion. Webber finished 6th.

Red Bull won the Constructors’ Championship with 460 points.

2013:

At the first race of the season in Australia Vettel took pole, but struggled and finished 3rd behind Raikkonen and Alonso. Webber came 6th.

The following race in Malaysia saw normal service resume with a 1-2. Vettel’s win was somewhat overshadowed by his disobeying of team orders.

The weekend in China was a little disappointing. Qualifying was poor and Vettel started in 9th, with Webber in 14th. Vettel recovered well and finished 4th, while Webber retired.

Vettel extended his contract until the end of 2015 and Webber announced his retirement from Formula One at the British Grand Prix. Daniel Ricciardo would replace Webber.

In Italy, Vettel won Red Bull’s 50th pole and 40th Grand Prix.

Vettel won the Drivers’ Championship and Red Bull the Constructors’ Championship for the 4th consecutive year.

2014:

Vettel and Ricciardo were the team’s drivers. In pre-season testing it became apparent that the Renault powerplant was very unreliable.

At the season opener in Australia Ricciardo – in his first race for Red Bull - started and finished in 2nd. But Ricciardo was later disqualified for violating the new FIA rule of fuel use. Red Bull appealed - but lost. World champion Vettel started 13th and retired after 3 laps with a power unit failure.

In Malaysia, Ricciardo retired on Lap 49 with a technical failure and Vettel finished on the podium in 3rd.

The weekend in Bahrain saw Ricciardo receive a 10-place grid penalty for an ‘unsafe release’ by Red Bull in the pit – so he qualified 3rd on the grid but started in 13th. But the Honey Badger drove an incredible race to finish 4th. Vettel came in 6th.

At the Spanish Grand Prix, Ricciardo achieved the first podium finish of his career taking 3rd and repeated this position at the following race in Monaco.

In Canada, Ricciardo won his first Formula One race.

After the Austrian Grand Prix (Vettel 4th, Ricciardo 8th) a frustrated Christian Horner appeared to mock Renault “when a driver with a Mercedes engine pushes the overtake button, his car goes faster. When our drivers, which have a Renault engine, push the button, the car stops.”

Red Bull came 2nd in the Constructors’ Championship with 405 points. Ricciardo finished 3rd in the Drivers’ Championship, Vettel 5th.

2015:

Vettel moved to Ferrari and Daniil Kvyat became Ricciardo’s new teammate.

Red Bull struggled this season with reliability, power and drivability issues. It was their first winless season since 2008 and they finished 7th in the Constructors’ Championship with 187 points. Their lowest finish in 7 years.

Kvyat finished 7th in the Drivers’ Championship with 95 points. Ricciardo was 8th with 92.

They also wanted to end their partnership with Renault but couldn’t agree on another engine – so Renault engines for 2016 would be rebadged as TAG-Heuer.

Vettel finished 3rd in the Drivers’ Championship, Ricciardo 8th.

Red Bull came 4th in the Constructors’ Championship with just 187 points. Winners Mercedes had 703 points.

2016:

A new partnership began with Aston Martin.

The season started with Ricciardo and Kvyat. But when Kvyat was replaced by Max Verstappen at the Spanish Grand Prix – and Verstappen won – becoming the youngest ever Grand Prix winner - Kvyat returned to Scuderia Toro Rosso.

From here Red Bull got stronger. Ricciardo apparently was pushed harder to succeed by his young teammate. Podiums followed for Verstappen in Austria (2nd), Silverstone (2nd), Germany (3rd), Malaysia (2nd), Japan (2nd) and Brazil (3rd). For Ricciardo podiums in Monaco (2nd), Hungary (3rd), Germany (2nd), Belgium (2nd) Singapore (2nd), Malaysia (1st), USA (3rd) and Mexico (3rd).

A sign of things to come in the shape of Verstappen was at the Brazilian Grand Prix – he dropped to 14th changing back to wet tyres, but an incredible drive in the last 16 laps saw him finish 3rd.

Red Bull came 2nd in the Constructors’ Championship. Ricciardo was 3rd in the Drivers’ Championship with 256 points. Verstappen 5th with 204 points.


max verstappen red bull driver

2017:

The season started with the Australian Grand Prix – Ricciardo retired and Verstappen finished 5th.

Ricciardo achieved 9 podiums in 2017 including a win in Azerbaijan.

Verstappen however, struggled with reliability issues: 3 retirements due to engine problems and 1 with an electrical failure. A further 3 retirements were caused by collisions. For the races that Verstappen did finish – he achieved 4 podiums, including wins in Malaysia and Mexico.

Ricciardo finished 5th in the Drivers’ Championship with 200 points, Verstappen was 6th with 168.

Red Bull were 3rd in the Constructors’ Championship with 368 points.

2018:

A double retirement in Bahrain was followed by a win for Ricciardo at the Chinese Grand Prix.

In Azerbaijan the Red Bull teammates crashed into each other at Turn 1 – putting them both out of the race.

Red Bull enjoyed the dominant car at the Monaco Grand Prix, due to its effective downforce and Ricciardo won from pole – despite suffering a loss of power. Verstappen crashed in practice and started 20th – finishing the race in 9th.

Verstappen followed with podiums in Canada (3rd), France (2nd), Austria (1st) and Belgium (3rd) - he then scored a wonderful 6 podiums from the last 8 races of the season.

Ricciardo suffered multiple mechanical issues and 8 retirements in total, with no podiums after the first 6 races.

A crash with Esteban Ocon cost Verstappen victory in Brazil and a clash between them after the race resulted in 2 days of public service for Verstappen.

Verstappen finished 4th in the Drivers’ Championship with 249 points, Ricciardo was 6th with 170.

Red Bull finished 3rd in the Constructors’ Championship and officially ended their relationship with Renault. Ricciardo moved to Renault.

2019:

Red Bull introduced the Honda power unit.

Pierre Gasly initially replaced Ricciardo, before Alexander Albon took over in August 2019.

Verstappen achieved 9 podiums in 2019 and just 2 retirements – finishing 3rd in the Drivers’ Championship with 278 points.

Red Bull finished 3rd in the Constructors’ Championship with 417 points.


red bull f1 racing car

2020:

Albon achieved his first Formula One podium in Tuscany this season – finishing 3rd. He took another 3rd place in Bahrain.

Verstappen achieved an impressive 11 podiums and 5 retirements out of 17 races.

Verstappen finished 3rd in the Drivers’ Championship with 214 points. Albon was 7th with 105.

Red Bull came 2nd in the Constructors’ Championship with 319 points.

2021:

Sergio Perez replaced Albon.

After the Monaco Grand Prix, Red Bull took the lead in the Constructors’ Championship for the first time since Brazil in 2013 and Verstappen took the lead in the Drivers’ Championship for the first time in his career.

An intense battle with championship rival Lewis Hamilton first peaked with a controversial clash at Silverstone’s Copse Corner between the two – putting Verstappen out of the race, while Hamilton took the win.

The title race was so close that the final race in Abu Dhabi became the decider. Both drivers were on 369.5 points. Verstappen took pole, but Hamilton immediately overtook him at the start.

The battle was close and sometimes controversial – early on Hamilton went off track to avoid Verstappen and re-entered slightly ahead. Red Bull complained, but Hamilton wasn’t forced to give back his advantage.

But nothing was more controversial than the finish: Hamilton was comfortably ahead, before a safety car and some questionable decisions from the race director – put the rivals level at the restart. Verstappen’s fresh tyres helped him overtake Hamilton on the last lap to win the race and the World Championship.



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