Autoblog

SPOILER ALERT: 2009 Formula 1 season wraps up with a bang at inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Noah Joseph — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:47:00 EST

2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Click above for high-res image gallery

Les jeux sont faits. The line signifies the last call for bets at a casino, and is all too familiar to racing fans visiting Monte Carlo for the annual Monaco Grand Prix. But these days the Mediterranean principality isn't the only place that features state-of-the-art Formula One race cars speeding past casinos. Nor is it the only exotic locale anymore that stages an F1 grand prix around a marina, for that matter. Over the past couple of years, Valencia and Singapore became two of the newest circuits that incorporate trackside docking for mega-yachts alongside wheel-to-wheel action, and this year Abu Dhabi joined the fold with the much-hyped Yas Marina Circuit. But by the time the F1 circus sailed in to the Gulf emirate for the last round of the 2009 Formula One World Championship, the titles were already settled and the champions already crowned.

With the major plays already made, some might have dismissed the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as insignificant. Indeed, if Bernie Ecclestone had his way with his proposed olympic-style medal system, the race might have been canceled altogether. But if you ask us, removing the title chase from racing boils motorsport competition down to its essence, all eyes focused purely on the checkered flag instead of scoring points in the larger context of the championship. And if anything, the action on Yas Island only proved the point. Follow the jump to read how it unfolded.

Gallery: 2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

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SPOILER ALERT: 2009 Formula 1 season wraps up with a bang at inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Next Stop, Le Mans: FIA reportedly puts the brakes on Sebastien Loeb's grand prix debut

Noah Joseph — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:22:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs

What do you do after making it to the pinnacle of rallying and winning a record-shattering six consecutive world championships? Anything you want - or so you'd think - but Sebastien Loeb is running into some roadblocks that appear to have derailed his plans to try his hand at Formula One.

The French rally ace who recently secured his sixth WRC title in a row was tipped to potentially drive for Scuderia Toro Rosso at the upcoming F1 season finale in Abu Dhabi. Considering that the team is owned by the same company that sponsors Loeb's Citroën rally car, and that the outfit seems to almost exclusively employ drivers named Sebastien (to say nothing of the championship already having concluded), it all seemed entirely likely. But despite having participated in a number of test sessions, the FIA has reportedly deemed the 35-year-old driver unsuitable for F1 racing, refusing to grant him the Superlicense needed to compete.

So what's next on Loeb's plate? Although he's recently been linked with a drive for USF1, Loeb realizes he probably won't get another shot at F1 at this point in his career. But he isn't done with circuit racing altogether. Having scored an impressive podium finish at Le Mans in 2006 for the Pescarolo team and tested the Peugeot 908 LMP1 (run by the same automaker as his rally team) a couple of times already, the champ is looking at potentially joining the Peugeot Le Mans team again in the near future.

[Source: Autosport | Image: Mark Thompson/Getty/Red Bull Racing]

Next Stop, Le Mans: FIA reportedly puts the brakes on Sebastien Loeb's grand prix debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: David Coulthard gets a speeding ticket. In an F1 car.

Noah Joseph — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:32:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Government/Legal, Marketing/Advertising, India

David Coulthard demonstrates for Red Bull Racing in Mumbai, India - Click above for high-res image gallery

You can't blame an F1 driver from driving fast. That's what they're supposed to do. Evidently authorities in India feel differently, however, as they've slapped David Coulthard with an enormous £20,000 (approx $33k) ticket for breaking the speed limit. The kicker? It was for a Formula 1 demonstration on a closed-off section of roadway.

The winner of thirteen grands prix (and one of the top points scorers of all time) retired from active racing at the end of last season, but remains a consultant and test driver for the Red Bull Racing team which he helped form. The team recently held a demonstration run in Mumbai, India, drawing a crowd of some 50,000 racing fans.

Part of the route took Coulthard across the Rajiv Ghandi Sea Link. The bridge has a maximum speed limit of 62 miles per hour, and even drops to 31 MPH in some parts. DC, however, was clocked at 162 MPH. As a result, the local authorities are reportedly withholding the £20,000 deposit which the team put down for the event, making for one mammoth speeding ticket. But at least Coulthard isn't stuck paying out of pocket.

Gallery: Red Bull Racing demonstration in Mumbai, India

[Source: Autosport]

REPORT: David Coulthard gets a speeding ticket. In an F1 car. originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SPOILER ALERT: The Fat Lady Sings at the 2009 Brazilian Grand Prix

Noah Joseph — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 16:47:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, South America

2009 Brazilian Grand Prix - Click above for high-res image gallery

"Everything can change in a New York minute." It's a good thing Don Henley wrote his hit song twenty years before this weekend's Brazilian Grand Prix. Because "in an Interlagos minute" just doesn't have the same ring to it. But it does go to show how quickly fortunes can be reversed over the course of a race distance. Especially when the championship is on the line.

With two races to go, the F1 circus rolled in to Sao Paulo with Jenson Button - winner of six grands prix this season - leading his Brawn GP team-mate, hometown hero and chief rival Rubens Barrichello 85 to 71, with Red Bull challenger Sebastian Vettel - fresh from victory in Japan - trailing with 69 points. The most likely scenarios placed Button clinching the title right here at the penultimate championship round, if not at the final race in Abu Dhabi two weeks from now.

But the heavens seemed to have a different plan when torrential downpours put a hamper on Saturday's qualifying session. Once the rain stopped, yesterday's proved to be the longest qualifying session in Formula One history, and the order came out all messed up. Instead of placing up at the front of the grid, Button and Vettel found themselves way down the pecking order in 14th and 16th positions. In their place, their respective wingmen Barrichello and Webber started 1st and 2nd on the grid, with half a field's worth of back-markers separating them. Follow the jump to read how the race unfolded.

Gallery: 2009 Brazilian Grand Prix

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SPOILER ALERT: The Fat Lady Sings at the 2009 Brazilian Grand Prix originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 18 Oct 2009 16:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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End of Year Shuffle: 14 Formula One teams swap drivers for 2010

Noah Joseph — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 09:28:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs

If you thought the series of driver changes in the middle of this ongoing Formula One season was something, it's nothing compared to the grand game of musical chairs expected to ensue as the season draws to a close. With BMW closing up shop, several new teams joining the grid and at least a couple of former world champions switching teams for next year's championship, we're shaping up for the biggest jumble the F1 circus has seen in years. Follow the jump to see how it's unfolding so far.

[Image: Clive Mason/Getty]

Continue reading End of Year Shuffle: 14 Formula One teams swap drivers for 2010

End of Year Shuffle: 14 Formula One teams swap drivers for 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SPOILER ALERT: Of Champions and Shadows at the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix

Noah Joseph — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 16:55:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Europe

2009 Hungarian Grand Prix - Click above for high-res image gallery

Jenson Button and his Brawn GP team cast a dominating shadow over the start of this year's Formula One World Championship, taking the checkered flag at six out of the seven races this season to take a commanding lead for the title. But as Button and Brawn cast a dark shadow over the competition, the skies over the paddock at this past weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix were darkened even further, with the drivers getting a taste of their own mortality after Felipe Massa was hospitalized with severe injuries to his head after being hit by a spring during Saturday's qualifying session.

Driving an F1 car - in a grand prix no less - takes an extraordinarily focused person, ignoring the laws of physics and all that can go wrong in order to even get some heat into the tires, much less extract the car's true performance potential. Winning a grand prix takes an even more rarified breed of individual, outgunning the other exceptionally talented and driven drivers to claim victory. Only 102 people have managed that feat in the history of the sport. But it takes a champion to see a fallen comrade and still marshal the fortitude to reel in the win.

Gallery: 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix

Continue reading SPOILER ALERT: Of Champions and Shadows at the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix

SPOILER ALERT: Of Champions and Shadows at the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toro Rosso reportedly replaces Sebastien Bourdais with 19-year-old Jamie Alguersuari

Noah Joseph — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs

Those pulling for Sebastien Bourdais will undoubtedly be disappointed by the latest reports emanating from the Formula One paddock. After winning the now-defunct Champ Car title four times in a row, the French driver switched to Formula One with Scuderia Toro Rosso last season, but while his team-mate Sebastian Vettel scored race wins, Bourdais never managed to do better than a couple of seventh-place finishes. Now, after his third early retirement this season at the German Grand Prix this past weekend, reports indicate that he's been given the axe.

Taking Bourdais' seat at STR for the upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix will be Jamie Alguersuari, a Red Bull prodigy, recently promoted reserve/test driver for both Red Bull Racing and reigning champion in the British Formula 3 championship. Reports suggest that Alguersuari's promotion to the race seat serves as preparation for his full-time campaign next season and was fueled, so to speak, by a pending sponsorship deal with Spanish oil company Repsol, which supports Alguersuari's career. If the reports are confirmed and the 19-year-old racer starts the Hugarian GP for STR, he'll be the youngest ever to race in F1.

While the news undoubtedly comes as a disappointment for Bourdais and his fans, it surely disappoints another French multiple-champion as well. As rumors have escalated over the past few days about Bourdais' departure, five-time World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb publicly threw his hat into the ring to replace his countryman. Loeb previously tested an F1 car for sister team Red Bull Racing, and has long contemplated a switch of disciplines. But while Loeb's declaration infuriated Bourdais, but it looks like his move from WRC to F1 will have to wait a little longer.

[Source: Autosport | Image: Peter Fox/Getty]

Toro Rosso reportedly replaces Sebastien Bourdais with 19-year-old Jamie Alguersuari originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Jul 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SPOILER ALERT: Letting Loose the Dogs of War at the 2009 German Grand Prix

Noah Joseph — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:27:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

2009 German Grand Prix - Click above for high-res image gallery

Every dog has his day. Let's make that the unofficial theme of this year's Formula One season. You can ask any of a variety of players in this year's championship and they'll surely attest to the old axiom's veracity.

First to speak up would undoubtedly be Jenson Button, the surprisingly dominant leader of this year's championship. He's been on the field since the turn of the millennium, racing for essentially the same team - under different banners - for the last seven seasons but who, until this year, had only one race win to show for it. His entire team at Brawn GP wouldn't be far behind in backing him up, either, as the scrappy insurgency has emerged as the force to be reckoned with in this tumultuous season. But this weekend's German Grand Prix, back at the Nürburgring thanks to a rotation with Hockenheim, it was another dog who had his day. Follow the jump to find out who.

Gallery: 2009 German Grand Prix

Continue reading SPOILER ALERT: Letting Loose the Dogs of War at the 2009 German Grand Prix

SPOILER ALERT: Letting Loose the Dogs of War at the 2009 German Grand Prix originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SPOILER ALERT: Holding Back the Reign at the 2009 British Grand Prix

Noah Joseph — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 23:07:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, UK

2009 British Grand Prix - Click above for high-res image gallery

Did summertime showers put a damper on your Father's Day plans? That game of catch in the park or trip to the local Six Flags may not have worked out, but despite seemingly year-round rain in England, race fans at Silverstone enjoyed beautifully dry weather for this weekend's running of the British Grand Prix.

Clear skies may not have been enough to hold back the gathering storm clouds darkening F1's skies: the future of the British Grand Prix hangs in the balance as officials debate the merits of the planned move from Silverstone to Donington, while the sport itself threatens to split in two as the FIA holds its line and the teams prepare to form their own series. But none of that mattered when the lights flashed green on the starting grid at Silverstone. The question on everyone's minds, of course, was whether the so-far dominant Jenson Button would be able to carry his momentum into a sought-after home-turf victory, or if his challengers would be able to turn the tides. Follow the jump to find out who came out on top.

Gallery: 2009 British Grand Prix

Continue reading SPOILER ALERT: Holding Back the Reign at the 2009 British Grand Prix

SPOILER ALERT: Holding Back the Reign at the 2009 British Grand Prix originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Jun 2009 23:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Red Bull Racing performs full NASCAR pit stop in Times Square

John Neff — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Marketing/Advertising, Videos

Click above to watch video after the jump

Ah, viral marketing. We have this modern form of guerilla advertising to thank for so many funny You Tube videos. The latest comes courtesy of Red Bull via its Red Bull Racing NASCAR team. The pit crew along with driver Brian Vickers were forced to pit in an unusual location this week when the car required a tire change outside of the McDonald's in Times Square. Hey, when a driver needs new rubber, he needs new rubber, tourists be damned. so the RBR pit crew performed a full donut swap right there on the street in Times Square. Hundreds of onlookers stood in amazement at the site of a car actually finding a space to park in Times Square, even it was for only 20.6 seconds. Follow the jump to view this NASCAR craziness for yourself. Thanks for the tip, phil!

[Source: YouTube

Continue reading VIDEO: Red Bull Racing performs full NASCAR pit stop in Times Square

VIDEO: Red Bull Racing performs full NASCAR pit stop in Times Square originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sebastian Vettel drives his Toro Rosso on public streets to pick up award

Noah Joseph — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 09:59:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

Sebastian Vettel en route to receive the Lorenzo Bandini Trophy - Click above for a high-res image gallery

It's not every day that we get to see an F1 car out on city streets, but then again, we don't live in Italy. That's the racing-crazed country that recently allowed Sebastian Vettel to drive a grand prix racer across 12 kilometers of public roads to receive the Lorenzo Bandini Trophy.

The award is presented annually in the Italian village of Brisighella, where Lorenzo Bandini lived until his tragic death at the 1967 Monaco Grand Prix. Every year since, the Bandini family presents the trophy to a F1 driver, and it's become a bit of a tradition that the recipient drive his F1 car to pick it up in person. So with police escorts (note the Polizia-spec Lamborghini Gallardo in the background of the pictures in the gallery below), Vettel drove the dozen clicks from the home base of the Scuderia Toro Rosso - with whom he won the Italian Grand Prix last season - in an STR F1 car to Brisighella, where he joined the ranks of such recent recipients as Felipe Massa, Mark Webber, Kimi Raikkonen, Jacques Villeneuve and Robert Kubica in accepting the citation.

Gallery: Sebastian Vettel receives Lorenzo Bandini Trophy

Sebastian Vettel drives his Toro Rosso on public streets to pick up award originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Jun 2009 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More F1 teams joins boycott call for 2010 regulation changes

Noah Joseph — Mon, 11 May 2009 16:29:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

Yesterday, we brought you news that Toyota could quit Formula One if FIA president Max Mosley's proposal for a two-tiered budget system is put in place. But the Japanese team based in Germany - currently enjoying its best season so far - isn't the only one making noise. Ferrari has hinted it could jump ship and put its energy into Le Mans, instead. Mercedes-Benz has said it could cancel its F1 program, and BMW has reportedly done the same. Now, three more teams are joining the call for the proposed regulations to be annulled, or else.

Next up to the plate is Red Bull, which owns and operates both the Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso teams. Owner Dietrich Mateschitz has joined the ranks of disgruntled team owners, saying he will not field his two teams next season under the proposed regulations.

Renault has not quite gone that far, but team principal Flavio Briatore has said that the rules need to be changed, the fashion king comparing the FIA's proposal to opening discount stores on trendy streets. The FIA has set May 29 as the deadline for teams to sign up and pay their fees to race in 2010, but with Ferrari, McLaren-Mercedes, BMW Sauber, Red Bull, Toro Rosso and Renault threatening boycott, that leaves only Williams, Force India and Brawn GP lining up on the grid next year. Those three are expected to go ahead regardless, because as independent F1 teams, if they withdrew or sat a season out, they would have no other obvious places to race.

Even with several new teams lining up to join the field next year, Mosley can't seriously hold his ground against all the sport's biggest teams... can he? It's a high-speed game of chicken, and somebody's going to flinch.

[Sources: Autosport and F1-Live | Image: Diego Tuson/AFP/Getty]

More F1 teams joins boycott call for 2010 regulation changes originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 May 2009 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SPOILER ALERT: Spraying the Bubbly at the 2009 Bahrain Grand Prix

Noah Joseph — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 16:23:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Middle East

2009 Bahrain Grand Prix - Click above for a high-res image gallery

If you hadn't watched a single grand prix yet this season, hadn't read any F1-related news or even glanced at a headline, and hadn't spoken to a single racing fan for the past couple of months, you'd likely be shocked to find out how this season has unfolded so far, with the back-markers going from checkered pasts to checkered flags over the course of the winter break. But even at the break-neck speeds which modern F1 cars travel, you wouldn't need an elaborate explanation to catch up with the parade. All you'd need would be to look at the expression on the face of this weekend's race winner and you'd be there. Follow the jump to catch a glimpse.

Gallery: 2009 Bahrain Grand Prix

Continue reading SPOILER ALERT: Spraying the Bubbly at the 2009 Bahrain Grand Prix

SPOILER ALERT: Spraying the Bubbly at the 2009 Bahrain Grand Prix originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 26 Apr 2009 16:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SPOILER ALERT: More Rain, More Surprises at Chinese Grand Prix

Noah Joseph — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 08:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, China

2009 Chinese Grand Prix - Click above for a high-res image gallery

"You can't always get what you want / But if you try sometimes you might find / You get what you need." The Rolling Stones couldn't have known it at the time, but they may as well have written the unofficial theme song for this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix. After the last race in Malaysia two weeks ago was canceled less than halfway through due to heavy rains, the grid of Formula One drivers could have done with a dry spell this weekend in Shanghai. Instead, they got more torrential downpours, forcing the race officials to start the procession under a yellow flag and a safety car.

With the conditions only letting up enough to commence the race on the eighth lap, the qualifying order played an even more vital role in determining the race's outcome. Those who tuned in Saturday were surprised to see Brawn GP - the upstart team that had won both races at the start of the season - relegated down the starting order, with Rubens Barrichello in fourth place ahead of his championship-leading team-mate Jenson Button in fifth. In their place were the Red Bulls of Sebastian Vettel (on pole) and Mark Webber (in third), with the Renault-powered cars sandwiching two-time world champion Fernando Alonso's factory Renault in second place on the grid. But how long would that order hold as the elongated formation lap drew closer to the start of the race? Follow the jump to find out.

Gallery: 2009 Chinese Grand Prix

Continue reading SPOILER ALERT: More Rain, More Surprises at Chinese Grand Prix

SPOILER ALERT: More Rain, More Surprises at Chinese Grand Prix originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Apr 2009 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Red Bull gives you wings, slicks...heck, a whole new car at Jerez

Noah Joseph — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

Click to view a high-resolution gallery of the new Red Bull RB5

It's been a month since the initial onslaught of new F1 car debuts, and Red Bull Racing is running in the back of the pack with the unveiling of its new contender. Called the RB5, the latest Red Bull was revealed at the Jerez circuit in Spain, where Sebastian Vettel, newly promoted from the Toro Rosso B-squad, drove a few test laps before a gearbox problem sidelined him for the rest of the day. He'll be joining Mark Weber, who limped without crutches to the debut, fresh out of surgery to remove a titanium rod from his leg following his bike injury in Tasmania.

Like its engine supplier Renault, Red Bull has signed a new partnership with French oil company Total, which will supply fuel and lubricants to both teams this season. You can check out images of the new RB5, designed under the same new regs as the rest of the field - meaning a smaller rear wing, a bigger front one, regenerative braking system and slick tires at each corner - in the gallery below. But don't expect to see any rear shots, as Red Bull was careful to keep the rear diffuser, which has been a source of controversy for the Toyota and Williams teams - hidden from sight pending the FIA's ruling on the design. With Honda's fate still undecided, only Toro Rosso and Force India have yet to reveal their cars as we approach the season opener in Melbourne late next month.

Gallery: Red Bull Racing RB5

Red Bull gives you wings, slicks...heck, a whole new car at Jerez originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Feb 2009 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Rhys Millen to perform trophy truck backflip live on New Year's Eve

Drew Phillips — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 12:59:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Videos

Click above to watch a video of Rhys Millen preparing for his trophy truck backflip after the jump

We love Red Bull for ~~giving us wings~~ its endless stream of marketing money that supports so many forms of motorsports, although not nearly as much as we admire Rhys Millen for having the testicular fortitude to attempt a backflip in a trophy truck....again. Last year, Millen fractured five vertebrae practicing the very same stunt, although it appears he came away unfazed and is ready to have another go. Understandably, Rhys says he's a "little nervous" about the jump, but that he's ready to jump back in the saddle. The stunt will be shown live on ESPN and ESPN HD on New Year's Eve at 11:00 PM/ET and 8:00 PM/PT along with Robbie Maddison's attempt at a 96 foot vertical jump with a dirt bike. Follow the jump to watch footage of Millen's mishap last year and hear him talk about his upcoming attempt.

[Source: Red Bull USA, YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Rhys Millen to perform trophy truck backflip live on New Year's Eve

VIDEO: Rhys Millen to perform trophy truck backflip live on New Year's Eve originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Dec 2008 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wait, What? Red Bull buys back full stake in Toro Rosso

Noah Joseph — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 17:59:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Earnings/Financials

Click above for a high-res image

We wish we could understand how Dietrich Mateschitz thinks, but we just can't. After years of sponsoring F1 teams, the Red Bull chief decides to buy one outright. That wasn't enough, so he buys a second one. Then he sells half of that team to former F1 driver (and fellow Austrian) Gerhard Berger. Then he says he wants to sell it off altogether, but instead he buys it back.

And so comes the announcement today that Mateschitz has re-acquired full stake in his B-squad, Scuderia Toro Rosso, which proved itself better than the A-squad by outperforming it all year and even winning a race. For next season, STR's wunderkind Sebastian Vettel is moving up to the Red Bull Racing main squad to replace the retired David Coulthard. The announcement for Sebastien Buemi to join STR in Vettel's seat is expected soon. Unless Mateschitz decides to buy something else.

[Source: Autosport]

Wait, What? Red Bull buys back full stake in Toro Rosso originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Nov 2008 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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F1 driver Mark Webber seriously injured in bike race

Merritt Johnson — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 07:57:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc.

Many Formula 1 drivers maintain their endurance and competitive spirit in the off season through the sport of cycling. Australian F1 driver Mark Webber is one of those individuals and he lends his name to the Mark Webber Pure Tasmania Challenge, a five-day multidisciplinary event held annually on the island. Unfortunately, news has just come out that Webber has been seriously injured on the cycling portion of this year's event. Current details state that he has been airlifted to the hospital and a broken leg appears to be the worst of his injuries.

Mark Webber's injuries were sustained in a head on collision with a Nissan X-Trail SUV. The race runs on public roads, and there were apparently no provisions to separate the racers from traffic on this particular stage. The course also consisted of narrow, winding roads, which potentially caused interference with the extended vision of both parties involved. We wish him the best of luck in his recovery and hope he can work back to racing shape, for both open wheel and mountain bike events in the near future. Thanks for the tip Jack and Sammy.

[Source: ABC News Au | Photo: Mark Thompson/Getty]

F1 driver Mark Webber seriously injured in bike race originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Nov 2008 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Red Bull to shut down the Red Bulletin

Noah Joseph — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 07:57:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

Formula One fans and team members alike will be disappointed by reports that the Red Bulletin may be cancelled. The magazine is put out by Red Bull, owners of the Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso teams, in four daily editions at each grand prix on the Formula One calendar. It has become a fixture of the paddock and grandstands since its introduction at Monaco in 2005.

The self-proclaimed "almost independent F1 newspaper" incorporates current news, interviews and feature articles in a humorous tone, and is distributed at the races free of charge in editions of up to 10,000 copies each. Unfortunately, it reportedly costs millions for Red Bull to produce, with a multilingual staff of 25 working out of a mobile publishing office with a Heidelberg 7.5t printing press. Although Red Bull will reportedly fund other publications, its grandiose parties and other expensive marketing initiatives are also tipped to be cut from the erstwhile seemingly endless cash-flow. We guess once they came down from their Taurine high, the bean-counters finally got their way.

[Source: GrandPrix.com]

REPORT: Red Bull to shut down the Red Bulletin originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 Nov 2008 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Loeb gets free Red Bull F1 test for fifth rally championship

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 06:59:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc.

Last year, Sebastien Loeb swapped his WRC Championship winning Citroen Xsara for a test in Renault's F1 car (and former Renault driver Heikki Kovalainen hopped in the Citroen). This year, Loeb's going to take a turn in Red Bull's F1 runner for a test at the Catalunya circuit on November 17th -- Red Bull also sponsors Loeb's WRC team. The difference this time: instead of a quiet get-to-know-the-car session, Loeb will be running with the other teams and drivers during an official F1 testing session. Although he'll be piloting the Renault-powered RB4 with a mission not to embarrass himself, he has no plans to vacate his Citroen rally seat. After five straight WRC championships, piloting an F1 car is just what you do in your time off, for fun. Must be nice...

[Source: F1 Live]

Loeb gets free Red Bull F1 test for fifth rally championship originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 Nov 2008 06:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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