Is Red Bull not recognized for its true value?

The Red Bull racing team has just won the 100th Grand Prix in its history with Max Verstappen’s victory in Canada. Founded in 2005 by Dietrich Mateschitz, the Austrian firm has brought six World Championships to its drivers (2 for Verstappen, 4 for Vettel).

For its former driver Mark Webber, Red Bull does not receive the praise it deserves compared to car manufacturers. If they had been a factory team, they might have received even more praise, said the Australian during an interview with Motorsport.

For the former Red Bull driver, from 2007 to 2013, the work provided by the energy drink manufacturer is impressive. It’s still essentially a team made up of fantastic individuals and people who have done an excellent job in creating a beautiful Formula 1 car capable of competing for the World Championships, which is dominant in many ways, explains the 46-year-old former driver.

“For Sebastian Vettel’s former teammate, the team’s efforts are very good. They have put in a lot of effort in this sport. The personnel and infrastructure in Milton Keynes speak to the quality of their management. […] The commitment they have shown, both towards their employees and the sport, has also been very good. People sometimes forget that the amount of work done by Red Bull is extraordinary,” the Australian affirmed, as reported by Motorsport.

This statement by Mark Webber is reminiscent of David Coulthard’s segment on BBC during the predictions for the 2010 season. Prior to the intervention of the Scot, the other analysts on the panel had predicted either Alonso’s Ferrari or Hamilton’s McLaren as the top contenders for the title. The 2001 runner-up had declared that Vettel was his champion. This statement had caused laughter on the panel. Coulthard’s status as an ambassador for the Austrian brand could have cast doubt on his objectivity, but he had been right. On November 14, 2010, Sebastian Vettel became the youngest world champion in the sport, and Red Bull claimed the first of its four consecutive titles.

The former drivers of the winged bulls therefore seem to know better than anyone the work that is done behind the scenes to make Red Bull the dominant force in the premier category of motorsport. Despite a lean period between 2014 and 2020, the team has always managed to maintain a certain level of competitiveness. Today, Christian Horner’s team is the fifth team in the championship with the most victories. Far ahead of historical teams like Lotus, Renault or Alfa Romeo.