Red Bull celebrate double triumph
So Red Bull managed to win the Formula One drivers’ and constructors’ championships eventually, and looking at the way the season panned out, they deserved to do so.
Sebastian Vettel was crowned the sport’s youngest world champion as he overcame Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber in the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi last weekend, and as the man who set 10 pole positions and took five wins, he is a worthy world champion.
The team celebrated their title double at their Austrian base in Salzburg.
“The past couple of months have been a unique experience for me and I have experienced great moments, which I will never forget, but there were also some difficult situations,” said Vettel, who was 15 points behind Alonso heading into the season finale. “I am very proud of what we have achieved. It’s a great moment for me and the whole team.”
The young German is grateful for Red Bull for helping him achieve success. “I am very happy with this team, we’re like a big family. Everyone has fun and is dedicated to what they are doing. Only when it’s like this is it possible to achieve at such a high level,” he said.
Webber was in a better position to take the title off Alonso as he was only eight points behind, and despite missing out, he is keen to get on with next season.
“The constructors’ championship was very important for Red Bull, and shows that this season has bound the team together. We can all be very proud of what we have achieved,” said the Australian. “I just missed my personal target this season, but there were many highlights and the next season starts soon.”
Vettel and Webber at times haven’t seen eye to eye this season, but after Vettel emerged as champion, they have since buried the hatchet. It didn’t look like they would do after what has happened. Remember that collision in Turkey, where Vettel and Webber hit one another to throw away the win, and when Red Bull took the new front wing off Webber’s car and gave it to Vettel?
Webber believes his rivalry with Vettel came good for the team at the end of the day. “It’s not always been easy for either of us [Seb or me] during the year, but this is normal when you’re competing against each other at this level. We both wanted to become world champion and therefore we pushed the whole team to perfection,” he said.
“At the end of the season, we are honestly able to show respect for each other’s performance, which is very important. Congratulations to Sebastian, he really deserves the title,” Webber, who has been at Red Bull since 2007added.
He was full of praise for his teammate, but is going to renew the rivalry when the 2011 season kicks off in Bahrain. “Sebastian's returning as a world champion and that's how it is, but I'm looking forward to next season and re-beginning the fight. We are going to start the battle again in Bahrain but everything has been reset,” he said.
Webber twice during the season told the media that Red Bull favoured Vettel rather than him, and with suggestions he could leave the team, Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz insists the “dream team” will stay intact for next season.
“Of course Mark will stay on, no doubt about it,” said a very pleased Mateschitz. “The whole 'dream team,’ maybe that's exaggerated, but I think it's true, will remain together. They all got even more bound together by that success.”
Success in the constructors’ championship could prove to be costly for Mateschitz, as he is set to dish out £5.5million in bonuses to his employees. He will be left with an empty wallet, but isn’t worried about it.
“Of course, as championship bonuses are written down in every contract. I guess we can afford this,” said Mateschitz, who will pay £10,000 to the 550 people in question.
It’s certainly a price worth paying for quite a brilliant season for Red Bull.
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