2014 Review – Red Bull Racing: A Mixed Season

The 2013 season was a crowning achievement for Sebastian Vettel, the German driver became world champion for the fourth time in his career – the same achievement for Red Bull on the constructors’ side. This season, it’s Daniel Ricciardo coming from Toro Rosso who replaces his compatriot Mark Webber alongside the four-time world champion.

THE PILOTS

Daniel Ricciardo – 3rd in the overall standings (226 points)

With Valtteri Bottas, Ricciardo became the revelation of this season. The Australian driver somewhat arrived at Milton Keynes as a foil to Sebastian Vettel. However, during the Australian Grand Prix, Daniel Ricciardo was close to securing pole position, but it was Nico Rosberg who started first on the grid. During the inaugural race, the Australian driver was disqualified after finishing second.

Subsequently, it was during the Canadian race and at the end of a phenomenal race that he won the first race of his career. He repeated this feat two more times, during the Hungarian Grand Prix before the summer break, in a race where with less worn tires he overtook Lewis Hamilton thanks to a superb maneuver, then Fernando Alonso in the final laps. His last victory of the season was claimed at the Belgian Grand Prix where he took advantage of a disagreement between the Mercedes drivers to win on the Spa-Francorchamps track. Despite his legendary smile, Daniel Ricciardo gradually lost it, as his teammate Sebastian Vettel gradually dominated him at the end of the season. In the end, Ricciardo managed to secure three victories and eight podiums during the 19 Grand Prix raced.

Sebastian Vettel – 5th in the overall standings (163 points)

It’s a season to forget for the German driver. Sebastian Vettel faced the greatest difficulties in the world adapting to the Hybrid V6 introduced in /f1/actualite/19173-bilan-2014-caterham-f1-plus-detincelles-en-coulisses-quen-piste.html. The new Ferrari driver even allowed himself to make a public statement openly criticizing this new V6 Turbo unit. Accustomed to victories, this season he signed none. His best performance was achieved at the Singapore Grand Prix where he finished second behind Lewis Hamilton. During the Japanese Grand Prix, the transfer market was taken by surprise as Vettel announced he was leaving Red Bull, leading to a small transfer shuffle. This season, Baby Schumi only stood on the podium four times.

L’EQUIPE

Red Bull Renault – 2nd in the Constructors’ Championship (389 points)

No 5th consecutive constructors’ crown for Red Bull. This season, like all teams powered by a Renault hybrid engine, Red Bull experienced a significant delay at the start. It was around the middle of the season that the Red Bull team managed to showcase its full potential and that of its car. Subsequently, it was during the summer that the Austrian team started securing victories, the only team to do so besides Mercedes this season.

PERSPECTIVES

The return of Red Bull Racing to the top of the Grand Prix standings will depend notably on the developments to be made to the Renault V6 engine. However, the Austrian team remains confident because they know the French firm is working hard behind the scenes to catch up with the Mercedes block. As for the Austrian team itself, Daniel Ricciardo will take on the leadership role but will need to watch out for Daniil Kvyat, who, in less than a year, moves from the GP3 Series title to one of the most prestigious teams on the grid, after an impressive first season with Toro Rosso.

Find all our reviews, team by team, of the season /f1/actualite/19173-bilan-2014-caterham-f1-plus-detincelles-en-coulisses-quen-piste.html:

– Caterham: Plus d’étincelles en coulisses qu’en piste

– Sauber: Une saison vierge de résultats

– Marussia: De la joie aux larmes…

– Lotus: Une saison dans les bas-fonds

– Toro Rosso: Des progrès malgré les défis à relever

– Force India: Une saison en net progrès

– McLaren: Année de transition après 20 ans avec Mercedes

– Ferrari: La fin d’une ère

– Williams: La saison du renouveau sportif