Red Bull seek ‘special motivation’ at home
Austria Grand Prix returns after 11-year absence from F1 calendar.
For Red Bull, the 1-3 finish in Montreal was a perfect set-up for this weekend’s race. PHOTO: AFP
SPIELBERG:
Red Bull will be looking to extend their winning form and set the stage for a real title challenge to dominant Mercedes when the Grand Prix returns to Austria Sunday after 11 years.
Fresh from Daniel Ricciardo’s maiden win in Canada two weeks ago, the Austrian team will have home advantage at the Red Bull Ring amid the rolling hills of southern Styria.
But the 24-year-old Australian still has a large gap to close if he is to catch up with current championship leader Nico Rosberg and his teammate Lewis Hamilton, who stand at 140 and 118 points respectively to his 79.
After taking all first six races of the season – putting it firmly in the lead in the constructors’ standings – Mercedes encountered power problems in Montreal, helping Ricciardo to victory.
This will not happen again, Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff vowed ahead of Formula One’s return to the historic track at Spielberg, “We will be pushing harder than ever to ensure that we do not give away any more valuable points to our rivals.
“We know we cannot afford to slip up as our rivals are always there to take advantage.”
We’ll fight with all we’ve got: Vettel
For Red Bull, the 1-3 finish in Montreal was a perfect set-up for this weekend’s race.
After four back-to-back championship titles thanks to German star Sebastian Vettel, the team struggled this season before traveling to Montreal.
But Vettel, third in Canada and fifth in overall standings, was confident that racing on home ground on Sunday ‘will energise us’.
“I have been looking forward [to this race] since the start of the season,” said Vettel. “A Grand Prix on the Red Bull Ring is a very special motivation for our team.”
“We will fight with all we’ve got to stand on top of the podium.”
Another team to be claiming home advantage will be Toro Rosso — also owned by the Austrian energy drink maker.
“It’s going to be a big weekend for the Red Bull family,” predicted Russia’s Daniil Kvyat.
Lotus, Caterham and Marussia, on the other hand, will just be hoping to redeem themselves after seeing all their drivers retire in a crash- and accident-packed race two weeks ago.
Force India’s Sergio Perez will meanwhile start with a five-place grid penalty after causing a near 300kph crash in Montreal with Felipe Massa of Williams, which both drivers escaped uninjured.
Many drivers will be racing Sunday on a track they hardly know.
Only Massa and former champions Fernando Alonso, Jenson Button and Kimi Raikkonen have taken part in an Austrian Grand Prix here and the track has undergone a few changes since its takeover by Red Bull.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 20th, 2014.
Red Bull will be looking to extend their winning form and set the stage for a real title challenge to dominant Mercedes when the Grand Prix returns to Austria Sunday after 11 years.
Fresh from Daniel Ricciardo’s maiden win in Canada two weeks ago, the Austrian team will have home advantage at the Red Bull Ring amid the rolling hills of southern Styria.
But the 24-year-old Australian still has a large gap to close if he is to catch up with current championship leader Nico Rosberg and his teammate Lewis Hamilton, who stand at 140 and 118 points respectively to his 79.
After taking all first six races of the season – putting it firmly in the lead in the constructors’ standings – Mercedes encountered power problems in Montreal, helping Ricciardo to victory.
This will not happen again, Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff vowed ahead of Formula One’s return to the historic track at Spielberg, “We will be pushing harder than ever to ensure that we do not give away any more valuable points to our rivals.
“We know we cannot afford to slip up as our rivals are always there to take advantage.”
We’ll fight with all we’ve got: Vettel
For Red Bull, the 1-3 finish in Montreal was a perfect set-up for this weekend’s race.
After four back-to-back championship titles thanks to German star Sebastian Vettel, the team struggled this season before traveling to Montreal.
But Vettel, third in Canada and fifth in overall standings, was confident that racing on home ground on Sunday ‘will energise us’.
“I have been looking forward [to this race] since the start of the season,” said Vettel. “A Grand Prix on the Red Bull Ring is a very special motivation for our team.”
“We will fight with all we’ve got to stand on top of the podium.”
Another team to be claiming home advantage will be Toro Rosso — also owned by the Austrian energy drink maker.
“It’s going to be a big weekend for the Red Bull family,” predicted Russia’s Daniil Kvyat.
Lotus, Caterham and Marussia, on the other hand, will just be hoping to redeem themselves after seeing all their drivers retire in a crash- and accident-packed race two weeks ago.
Force India’s Sergio Perez will meanwhile start with a five-place grid penalty after causing a near 300kph crash in Montreal with Felipe Massa of Williams, which both drivers escaped uninjured.
Many drivers will be racing Sunday on a track they hardly know.
Only Massa and former champions Fernando Alonso, Jenson Button and Kimi Raikkonen have taken part in an Austrian Grand Prix here and the track has undergone a few changes since its takeover by Red Bull.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 20th, 2014.