Autoblog

Watch F1's Mark Webber race a skydiver in Montreal [w/video]

Noah Joseph — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 19:01:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Infiniti, Canada

If Sebastian Vettel's foray into the Kung Fu movie scene struck you as a bit of a stretch, this latest publicity stunt from Infiniti and Red Bull could be more your speed.

While in Montreal for the Canadian Grand Prix, Australian Formula One driving ace Mark Webber headed up to north the ICAR circuit at Mirabel airport - the same place where we were schooled by the Jacques Villeneuve Academy a couple of years back - for another kind of race altogether.

That's where he met up with Jon DeVore, a competitive skydiver also sponsored by Red Bull and Infiniti. Jon showed Mark how to use a wind tunnel for something other than testing the aerodynamics of his racing car and Mark showed Jon how to get the most out of an Infiniti G37S on the track. The day culminated as it only could: with a race.

Webber took off from the start/finish line at ICAR at the same time that DeVore jumped out of a helicopter and both raced - one flat and one free-falling - towards the checkered flag. Scroll down to watch the video clip for the results and for the full press release, and scope out the high-resolution images in the gallery above for a closer look at the action.

Continue reading Watch F1's Mark Webber race a skydiver in Montreal [w/video]

Watch F1's Mark Webber race a skydiver in Montreal [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Mark Webber signs on for another year with Red Bull Racing

Noah Joseph — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 15:35:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs

The relationship between Mark Webber and the Red Bull Racing team he drives for has often been more of a rocky road than smooth tarmac. The two parties have butted heads more than a handful of times, but at the end of the day, they're a good match. And so the team has announced that it has signed the Australian driver for another season of F1 racing.

The announcement puts to rest all manner of rumors of Webber's replacement, including the potential return of Kimi Raikkonen, who's already sponsored by the same energy drink company in his rally pursuits.

From Webber's perspective, it can't be fun playing second fiddle to his junior wingman Sebastian Vettel, but the bottom line is that - having previously driven for Minardi, Jaguar and Williams - he never did as well as he's done these past few seasons at Red Bull, advancing from "also ran" status to fourth place in the 2009 world championship, third in last year's and the second place at which he currently stands this season. Official announcement in the press release after the jump.

Continue reading Mark Webber signs on for another year with Red Bull Racing

Mark Webber signs on for another year with Red Bull Racing originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Sep 2011 15:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Vettel and Webber hit the Nürburgring in pair of Infiniti M sedans

Noah Joseph — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 16:56:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Hybrid, Sedan, Marketing/Advertising, Infiniti, Luxury, Racing

This past weekend, the Formula One circus rolled into Eifel for the German Grand Prix. And though it was campaigned once again at the Nürburgring, the race was held on the GP-Strecke. The infamous Nordschleife hasn't been used for F1 racing since the early 80s, when it was deemed too dangerous for modern open-wheelers. But while they were on site, championship leaders Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber and their sponsor Infiniti didn't miss the opportunity for a little wheel-to-wheel action around the Green Hell.

The Renault-Nissan Alliance's premium marque that powers Seb's and Mark's Red Bull race cars put the duo on the Norschleife in a pair of Infiniti Ms, but here's the kicker: while Webber got the keys to the M37s sport sedan, Vettel climbed into the M35h hybrid.

So which driver had the advantage? Considering that Infiniti claims that the M35h is the world's quickest hybrid sedan and its most powerful car on the market - hitting 62 mph from a standstill in 5.5 seconds versus the conventional M37s' 6.2 - it looks like Vettel was set to get the jump on his elder wingman once again. Follow the jump to watch the video footage to find out.

Continue reading Vettel and Webber hit the Nürburgring in pair of Infiniti M sedans

Vettel and Webber hit the Nürburgring in pair of Infiniti M sedans originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Jul 2011 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Raikkonen to replace Webber at Red Bull?

Noah Joseph — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs

If you were watching the British Grand Prix this past weekend, you may have noticed a little friction in the Red Bull Racing team. And we're not talking about Sebastian Vettel and his team's jammed wheel gun that cost him the race.

In the closing laps of the race, Mark Webber had closed in right on Vettel's tail in a close fight for second place. But then the team radioed Webber and instructed him to back off. Webber ignored the team orders and kept pressing, and while he didn't manage to get by and didn't cause either to crash, it undoubtedly caused some consternation on Red Bull's pit wall.

Now rumor has it that the team is so angry with their No. 2 driver that they're preparing to give him the boot. In his place, according to reports, the reigning champions are planning on bringing in Kimi Raikkonen.

Of course this isn't the first time Raikkonen has been linked to an F1 return with Red Bull Racing. The 2007 champion left F1 a couple of years ago after Ferrari shoved him out the nest (with a big golden parachute, mind you), competing since in the World Rally Championship and in NASCAR, but has never ruled out a grand prix comeback.

Kimi's long been sponsored by Red Bull (the energy drink company that owns the F1 team in question), and apparently has close personal ties to Vettel. But few people know for sure whether the team orders incident at Silverstone was enough to break the proverbial camel's back in the often strained relations between Webber and RBR's management.

Raikkonen to replace Webber at Red Bull? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Jul 2011 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Vettel snags pole for Australian GP

Aaron Richardson — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 15:33:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Europe, Australia, Racing

2011 Red Bull RB7 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Red Bull is once again looking strong as it heads into Formula One's opening round in Australia. Red Bull ace and last year's champ Sebastien Vettel took pole position for Sunday's race by nearly a second in Saturday qualifying. Mark Webber, Vettel's teammate and Australia's hometown hero, wound up third behind Lewis Hamilton.

Red Bull claims that neither of its drivers used their KERS (Kinetic Energy Regeneration System) during qualifying, which is usually good for .3 seconds a lap. That means, in theory anyway, Vettel has a potential 1.5 second advantage over the competition when the green flag waves tomorrow.

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton is sandwiched between the two Red Bulls in second, while teammate and 2009 champ Jenson Button sits fourth behind Webber. Fernando Alonso is fifth in the first of the Ferraris ahead of Vitaly Petrov for Renault. Mercedes' Nico Rosberg is seventh, ahead of the second Ferrari of Felipe Massa. Kamui Kobayashi sits ninth for Sauber and Sebastien Buemi rounds out the top 10 for Toro Rosso.

Gallery: 2011 Red Bull RB7

[Source: AutoWeek]

Vettel snags pole for Australian GP originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 26 Mar 2011 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Red Bull extends Mark Webber's contract for another season

Noah Joseph — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 17:41:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs

When you're topping the championship standings, you usually don't have to worry about finding a ride for next season. Mark Webber and Red Bull Racing are a bit of a special case, though. For one thing, at 34 years old, Webber isn't the youngest driver on the grid. (That distinction belongs to his team-mate Sebastian Vettel.) For another, Red Bull's one of the most secretive teams on the grid. And Webber's in the middle of some controversy regarding a crash during last week's Turkish Grand Prix.

For these and many more reasons, much speculation has revolved around Webber's ride for next year, but that speculation can now be put to rest as Red Bull has confirmed the extension of his contract for another season. With Vettel already contracted for a couple more years to come, the announcement effectively confirms the team's line-up for 2011 with the same two drivers it's been running since David Coulthard retired at the end of 2008. It also places Red Bull alongside Ferrari, McLaren and Lotus as the only teams to secure its line-up for the season to come. Follow the jump for the official announcement.

[Source: Red Bull]

Continue reading Red Bull extends Mark Webber's contract for another season

Red Bull extends Mark Webber's contract for another season originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Jun 2010 17:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Webber-Vettel crash at Turkish GP still shrouded in mystery

Noah Joseph — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 10:19:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Rumormill

Those who caught our post-race coverage of the Turkish Grand Prix last weekend may still be scratching their heads wondering what happened. With the bulk of the race behind them, Red Bull Racing looked set to sail to a 1-2 finish, with Mark Webber (left) leading virtually uninhibited from pole. But then the unthinkable happened: Sebastian Vettel (right), who had been catching up to his teammate, moved to pass for the lead, but instead crashed into his wingman's car. Webber recuperated and took third place, but Vettel's race was over.

The big question on everyone's mind, however, is what exactly went wrong, and more pressingly, who was at fault. Opinions appeared divided among fans, pundits, even the team itself, and nobody was saying a thing. To observers it seemed obvious that Vettel was at fault, yet no clear attribution of guilt was issued. So what exactly happened?

Team orders, according to some speculation. The team claims it doesn't issue its drivers such controversial directives, but some reports indicated that just before the crash, team principal Christian Horner told Webber's race engineer Ciaron Pilbeam to instruct his driver to let Vettel by. Pilbeam reportedly refused - or simply neglected - to pass on the message, leaving Webber clueless to the plan.

If such team orders were indeed issued, Red Bull certainly isn't about to admit it. Pilbeam could get the old heave-ho as a result, but what good is a scapegoat if you can't place blame on him, anyway?

[Source: GrandPrix.com | Image: Cristina Quicler/AFP/Getty]

Webber-Vettel crash at Turkish GP still shrouded in mystery originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Jun 2010 10:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Reports place Red Bull's Vettel, Webber at Ferrari

Noah Joseph — Mon, 17 May 2010 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Ferrari, Rumormill

After winning three out of the seven races so far this season and topping both championship standings, Red Bull's dynamic duo of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber must be looking mighty tempting to any number of rival teams on the grid. But the most alluring, according to recent reports, could be Ferrari.

For his part, Vettel is widely regarded as the personal favorite of one Bernie Ecclestone, who could be helping to broker a deal that would see the young German wearing red in the near future. Vettel, however, is on a long-term contract with Red Bull, leaving the possibility open for a few years from now.

More likely for the near future, however, could be Webber. The 33-year-old Australian driver - fresh from back-to-back victories at the Spanish and Monaco grands prix - is on a year-to-year contract with Red Bull, which could leave him free to switch teams in the off-season. Red Bull chief Christian Horner has hinted at his intention to retain the driver currently topping the standings, but until a contract is signed... mind you, contracts in F1 aren't worth what they once were.

While Fernando Alonso continues to impress, Ferrari is widely speculated to be dissatisfied with their second driver Felipe Massa, and could cut the Brazilian lose for next season. Alternative reports place Renault's Robert Kubica in the Scuderia's hot seat, but only time will tell.

[Source: ESPN | Image: Clive Mason/Getty]

Reports place Red Bull's Vettel, Webber at Ferrari originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 May 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Wild Card: Red Bull unveils 2010 RB6

Noah Joseph — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 11:27:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Renault, Racing

2010 Red Bull Racing RB6 - Click above for high-res image gallery

What you're looking at here is not a Formula One race car. Sure, it looks like a race car, but what it is, in fact, is a wild card.

Following a tumultuous 2009 Championship that saw everything overturned, the 2010 F1 season is gearing up to be an absolute battle royale. If it weren't enough adding four new teams to the grid (with another waiting in the wings) and the departure of two major manufacturers from the series, three top World Championship teams are entering the upcoming season with multiple World Champions behind the wheel. Mercedes, McLaren and Ferrari may find the front of the pack all to themselves, relegating the rest of the grid to fight for table scraps and the odd point here or there. Or, if last season proves any indication, Red Bull Racing - our wild card pick for 2010 - could stand to upset the champions with a fight of their own.

As surprising as it was last season to see Brawn GP scoring victory after champagne-soaked victory, that team had the benefit of a strategic mastermind, the resources of a world-class automaker and two highly experienced drivers to its benefit. Red Bull, we'll argue, was the bigger surprise. The team started in 1997 as Stewart Grand Prix before changing to Jaguar Racing three seasons later, finally to be bought by Red Bull in 2005. But since Stewart's only race win in '99, the team in its various incarnations never managed to break out of the middle of the pack. Until last season, when Sebastian Vettel - still a relative rookie and the youngest race winner in F1 history - started racking up the wins. Four of them, in all, while his experienced wingman Mark Webber scored a couple more for the team... and the first in his long career.

Last season, however, was last season. What was chaos then is turning back into order now, and to take on the World Champions in the hope of joining their ranks, Red Bull Racing will need one heck of a good car. In accordance with the latest formula, the RB6 accommodates a larger fuel tank and double diffuser design. Otherwise, aside from some small aero tweaks - expected to be further adjustments before and once the season starts - the design is mostly a carry-over from last year's victorious RB5, right down to its Renault engine. Will that be enough to run at the front of the pack? We'll have to wait and see. In the meantime you can check out the mega gallery of high-resolution images by clicking the thumbnails below.

Gallery: 2010 Red Bull RB6

[Source: Red Bull Racing]

The Wild Card: Red Bull unveils 2010 RB6 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Feb 2010 11:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

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

Filed under: Motorsports, Middle East

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

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

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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

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.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

2009 Spanish Grand Prix: How the Mighty Have Fallen [SPOILER ALERT]

Noah Joseph — Sun, 10 May 2009 13:53:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

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

Those who tuned in on Saturday for the qualifying session at this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix would not have been surprised by the top three: Brawn's Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello took first and third on the starting grid, respectively, sandwiching Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel in second. No big surprise there - after dominating the first four rounds of the season, these three drivers hold the top three spots in the standings, after all. But coming in right behind them was a daunting wild card in Felipe Massa, who took fourth place on the grid. Of course only in this topsy-turvy season could Ferrari's golden boy, runner-up in last year's championship, be considered a wild card. Call it a sign of the times. But would Massa be able to turn around his dismal fortunes, take on the erstwhile underdogs and restore the Scuderia to its rightful place in the winner's circle? Follow the jump to find out.

Gallery: 2009 Spanish Grand Prix

Continue reading 2009 Spanish Grand Prix: How the Mighty Have Fallen [SPOILER ALERT]

2009 Spanish Grand Prix: How the Mighty Have Fallen [SPOILER ALERT] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 10 May 2009 13:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments