‘ENCOURAGING FRIDAY’
Car 15 SEBASTIAN VETTEL
1st Practice P3, 2nd Practice P7
“All in all, a good Friday. We had another practice day without any engine trouble, even though we did a lot of laps – so thanks to Renault for that. Other than that, we were fast throughout the whole of practice today. We’ll look into the data now and I’m sure we can improve further – we should have enough time before tomorrow to make another step forward. Weather-wise, I think today was the day they predicted rain and it didn’t rain much, so maybe that means rain for Sunday?... We will see.”
SEBASTIAN VETTEL
First Practice Session
Position: 3, Best Time: 1:12.932, Laps: 27,
Chassis No. 1
Second Practice Session
Position: 7, Best Time 1:12.611, Laps: 45,
Chassis No. 1
Car 14 MARK WEBBER
1st Practice P1, 2nd Practice P4
“We couldn’t have got much more out of today. The guys did a good job getting the optimum time on track that we could with the tricky conditions. We were dodging showers here and there, but we timed everything as well as we could. It’s one of the more encouraging Friday’s that we’ve had for a long time, so it was good. I hope it carries on tomorrow. We’ve seen that things can change day to day with this Championship, so I’m looking forward to qualifying – it should be good for us.”
MARK WEBBER
First Practice Session
Position: 1, Best Time: 1:12.463, Laps: 29,
Chassis No. 4
Second Practice Session
Position: 4, Best Time: 1:12.514, Laps: 41,
Chassis No. 4
Red Bull Racing
AUSSIE SURFS TO SECOND
Car 15,
SEBASTIAN VETTEL
Position 16th
“I’m not happy, it’s very disappointing. It should have been better, but it was difficult in the conditions. There was a window when the circuit was at its fastest, but we couldn’t use it as we were in traffic. Afterwards, when we were in clear air towards the end of the session, it was raining hard and there was too much water, so it was impossible to improve the time. It’s not the best position to start from – we were targeting much higher, but that’s life and we have to accept it.
There wasn’t really anything missing from our side today, it wasn’t about our pace, it was just a case of timing.”
CHRISTIAN HORNER:
“Firstly, it’s really frustrating for Sebastian to just miss out on Q2. Unfortunately, in the window when the circuit was at its best, traffic or other cars were making mistakes ahead of him, which cost him dearly and he wasn’t able to put a lap together at the optimum time. Later in Q1, the circuit was in an atrocious state and he just missed getting through to Q2. It’s frustrating as after the delay you could see how competitive the car was once some of the standing water had moved. Mark ran very competitively and missed out on pole by less than a tenth of a second. It was a strong performance by him and it’s going to make for a fascinating race tomorrow.”
Car 14,
MARK WEBBER
Position 2nd
“That was a very tricky session - especially in Q1 when the conditions were really bad. The car was difficult to drive then, but we scraped through. After qualifying re-started, the track came back to us a bit and I was able to be more competitive. It wasn’t too comfortable at first out on track, but then the grip came and the times were quite good. In Q3 I kept switching between the top three, from pole to third to pole to third; I would have liked to have had another crack at being on pole, but I made a mistake. I think it wasn’t easy to knit six perfect laps together in those conditions, but I’m very happy with how I drove and the guys in the garage did a great job. Congratulations to Rubens for his pole here at home; we’ll give him a race tomorrow.”
FABRICE LOM,
Renault, Principal Engineer Track Support:
“That was the longest qualifying session of my career – what a session! The first part was very disappointing with Sebastian not being able to make it into Q2. The second part was much better and Mark drove very well in the difficult conditions to secure second place. I have mixed feelings, it’s going to be very hard for both Championships now, but if it’s wet tomorrow anything can happen, so we will fight.”
Practice 3
Webber: P10, Best Time: 1:25.440, Laps: 5
Vettel: P15, Best Time: 1:27.047, Laps: 4
Car 15,
SEBASTIAN VETTEL
Position 16th
“I’m not happy, it’s very disappointing. It should have been better, but it was difficult in the conditions. There was a window when the circuit was at its fastest, but we couldn’t use it as we were in traffic. Afterwards, when we were in clear air towards the end of the session, it was raining hard and there was too much water, so it was impossible to improve the time. It’s not the best position to start from – we were targeting much higher, but that’s life and we have to accept it.
There wasn’t really anything missing from our side today, it wasn’t about our pace, it was just a case of timing.”
CHRISTIAN HORNER:
“Firstly, it’s really frustrating for Sebastian to just miss out on Q2. Unfortunately, in the window when the circuit was at its best, traffic or other cars were making mistakes ahead of him, which cost him dearly and he wasn’t able to put a lap together at the optimum time. Later in Q1, the circuit was in an atrocious state and he just missed getting through to Q2. It’s frustrating as after the delay you could see how competitive the car was once some of the standing water had moved. Mark ran very competitively and missed out on pole by less than a tenth of a second. It was a strong performance by him and it’s going to make for a fascinating race tomorrow.”
Car 14,
MARK WEBBER
Position 2nd
“That was a very tricky session - especially in Q1 when the conditions were really bad. The car was difficult to drive then, but we scraped through. After qualifying re-started, the track came back to us a bit and I was able to be more competitive. It wasn’t too comfortable at first out on track, but then the grip came and the times were quite good. In Q3 I kept switching between the top three, from pole to third to pole to third; I would have liked to have had another crack at being on pole, but I made a mistake. I think it wasn’t easy to knit six perfect laps together in those conditions, but I’m very happy with how I drove and the guys in the garage did a great job. Congratulations to Rubens for his pole here at home; we’ll give him a race tomorrow.”
FABRICE LOM,
Renault, Principal Engineer Track Support:
“That was the longest qualifying session of my career – what a session! The first part was very disappointing with Sebastian not being able to make it into Q2. The second part was much better and Mark drove very well in the difficult conditions to secure second place. I have mixed feelings, it’s going to be very hard for both Championships now, but if it’s wet tomorrow anything can happen, so we will fight.”
Practice 3
Webber: P10, Best Time: 1:25.440, Laps: 5
Vettel: P15, Best Time: 1:27.047, Laps: 4
FIRST TODAY
SECOND THIS YEAR
Car 14 MARK WEBBER, Finish Position: WINNER, Start Position: 2nd
“I’m happy with that! You never know in the first stint of a race what’s going to happen, although I knew Rubens (Barrichello) and Robert (Kubica) were a bit shorter than me. I was matching Robert’s pace to start with and when they made their pit stops, I knew I had a clear run to make a gap to start my second stint. I just cleared Jenson (Button) on my outlap, which was good too. I was just making sure the tyres were comfortable for the whole stint. I was a little bit panicky in the second stint as Robert started closing, although my pace was not too bad and I knew he was quite short in the middle stint. I was then able to control the gap to Robert and he backed off towards the end, which gave me a nice run home. It’s fantastic feeling to win again. As a team we’ve had quite a few victories this year off the back of some tough seasons, but today has confirmed second place for us in the Constructors’ Championship. We’re very proud of what we have achieved this year as a team – I want to thank Renault as well, the engines have been very good and they’re not easy environments for them to work in. Congratulations to Jenson and also to Brawn on clinching the Championships today after a good fight. It was a good weekend for the Australians, as Jason Crump won the World Speedway Championship last night. He’s a close friend of mine and he won it under difficult conditions, so a good weekend.”
Car 15 SEBASTIAN VETTEL, Finish Position: 4th, Start Position: 15th
“I think there is a guy at Brawn who is happier than me today. All in all it was a good race – starting from the back and finishing fourth. We were helped by some people crashing, but I think fourth was the maximum we could do today. Without the problems in yesterday’s qualifying, we could have won the race, but we didn’t so there’s not much more to say. The pressure wasn’t too much during the race, I was just focusing on each lap. I knew that Jenson was just ahead or behind me and would score points for the Championship – but you don’t really think about it until the last couple of laps. Before that you never know what can still happen. At one point I was praying for rain, there was the smell of rain, but it didn’t come. Congratulations to Jenson and Brawn, I think they did the best job this year.”
CHRISTIAN HORNER, Team Principal: “A brilliant drive from Mark today; he was faultless from start to finish. We knew he had a good overlap of fuel and he used it to brilliant effect, so a dominant win and a very strong weekend for him. For Sebastian, it was an excellent recovery from a lowly grid position. After the difficulties of yesterday, he drove a stunning race and fourth is a great result considering where he started. It was a very good team performance today, with great pit work. Congratulations to Jenson on becoming World Champion, he’s been a great competitor this year and also to the Brawn team on winning the Constructors’ Championship. We can reflect on an outstanding season and we’ll go to Abu Dhabi determined to finish with the momentum that we’ve had at the last few races.”
FABRICE LOM, Renault, Principal Engineer Track Support: “On one side we lost both Championships today, so I have a sad feeling for that. The fight was hard and very fair with Brawn, so congratulations to them. I won’t let anyone say that the engine is the only aspect that cost us the title, we won as a team and we lost as a team. Renault is part of this team and we are proud to be so. Putting the negatives aside, we are second in the Constructors’ Championship, which is a great achievement and I am very, very happy for Mark today. The second win is perhaps the one that confirms the talent of the driver and Mark has gained his second win with Renault, so congratulations to him and well done.”
SECOND THIS YEAR
Car 14 MARK WEBBER, Finish Position: WINNER, Start Position: 2nd
“I’m happy with that! You never know in the first stint of a race what’s going to happen, although I knew Rubens (Barrichello) and Robert (Kubica) were a bit shorter than me. I was matching Robert’s pace to start with and when they made their pit stops, I knew I had a clear run to make a gap to start my second stint. I just cleared Jenson (Button) on my outlap, which was good too. I was just making sure the tyres were comfortable for the whole stint. I was a little bit panicky in the second stint as Robert started closing, although my pace was not too bad and I knew he was quite short in the middle stint. I was then able to control the gap to Robert and he backed off towards the end, which gave me a nice run home. It’s fantastic feeling to win again. As a team we’ve had quite a few victories this year off the back of some tough seasons, but today has confirmed second place for us in the Constructors’ Championship. We’re very proud of what we have achieved this year as a team – I want to thank Renault as well, the engines have been very good and they’re not easy environments for them to work in. Congratulations to Jenson and also to Brawn on clinching the Championships today after a good fight. It was a good weekend for the Australians, as Jason Crump won the World Speedway Championship last night. He’s a close friend of mine and he won it under difficult conditions, so a good weekend.”
Car 15 SEBASTIAN VETTEL, Finish Position: 4th, Start Position: 15th
“I think there is a guy at Brawn who is happier than me today. All in all it was a good race – starting from the back and finishing fourth. We were helped by some people crashing, but I think fourth was the maximum we could do today. Without the problems in yesterday’s qualifying, we could have won the race, but we didn’t so there’s not much more to say. The pressure wasn’t too much during the race, I was just focusing on each lap. I knew that Jenson was just ahead or behind me and would score points for the Championship – but you don’t really think about it until the last couple of laps. Before that you never know what can still happen. At one point I was praying for rain, there was the smell of rain, but it didn’t come. Congratulations to Jenson and Brawn, I think they did the best job this year.”
CHRISTIAN HORNER, Team Principal: “A brilliant drive from Mark today; he was faultless from start to finish. We knew he had a good overlap of fuel and he used it to brilliant effect, so a dominant win and a very strong weekend for him. For Sebastian, it was an excellent recovery from a lowly grid position. After the difficulties of yesterday, he drove a stunning race and fourth is a great result considering where he started. It was a very good team performance today, with great pit work. Congratulations to Jenson on becoming World Champion, he’s been a great competitor this year and also to the Brawn team on winning the Constructors’ Championship. We can reflect on an outstanding season and we’ll go to Abu Dhabi determined to finish with the momentum that we’ve had at the last few races.”
FABRICE LOM, Renault, Principal Engineer Track Support: “On one side we lost both Championships today, so I have a sad feeling for that. The fight was hard and very fair with Brawn, so congratulations to them. I won’t let anyone say that the engine is the only aspect that cost us the title, we won as a team and we lost as a team. Renault is part of this team and we are proud to be so. Putting the negatives aside, we are second in the Constructors’ Championship, which is a great achievement and I am very, very happy for Mark today. The second win is perhaps the one that confirms the talent of the driver and Mark has gained his second win with Renault, so congratulations to him and well done.”
ABU DHABI GRAND PRIXVIEW
AS WE PREPARE FOR ABU DHABI, HERE’S PART THREE OF THE 2009 FORMULA ONE SEASON … ALONG WITH A LAP FROM DAVID COULTHARD OF THE YAS MARINA CIRCUIT…
Singapore outglams Monaco, Beyonce, Black Eyed Peas, Gwen Stefani, Simple Minds, ZZ Top, In the paddock it’s breakfast at lunch, dinner at midnight and sleeping pills in the morning. Grosjean crashes at Piquet Corner, even the Renault pit wall smile, Vettel on the front row, Webber on second, but Hamilton wins. Drivers meet potential FIA presidents blah blah blah, jet lagged F1 moves on to revamped Suzuka, amusement park rollercoasters gone, but new paddock features escalators for oldies. Paper boats sail down pit lane river on Friday, Alonso announced at Ferrari, world’s most expensive game of Musical Chairs begins as we do the Driver Shuffle, Raikkonen going back to McLaren, Kubica to Renault, Barrichello to Williams in Brawn swap with Rosberg, Elvis to USF1, Glock sick Kobayashi in, Glock back, Glock crash, Glock ouch, Glock out. Buemi, Alguersuari and Webber in Crash Bang Wallop, makes life expensive for Red Bull, but Vettel keeps title fight alive with masterful drive from pole to first for third win, Sunday night mayhem in Log Cabin, as F1 folk start its planned demolition work early. Jet lag reaches record level as F1 goes back to Europe, then west to Brazil, clocks go forward, but Glock not back. Torrential rain on Saturday, pit garages boast new water features, rain pours through roof during mammoth 2h45min Saturday Qualifyathon, TV pundits talk rubbish to fill extra time, so what’s new, drivers go to loo and eat snacks, qualifying back on, crowd berserk as Rubinho gets pole, Webber on front row, but Vettel back in 16th, Webber clinches win number two – the team’s fifth of the year, Buemi in the points, but all unnoticed as a Brit finishes fifth in Sao Paulo to deny a Brazilian (and a German) the title, a case of 2008 déjà vu. Well done to Button and Brawn, Red Bull Racing secures its best-ever finish, Second in 2009 Constructors’ Championship, one more race to go as F1 goes east from Europe again, this time to Abu Dhabi and to the Yas Marina circuit, where David Coulthard drove a 2-seater Formula One car earlier this month. And this is what he had to say about it…
DAVID COULTHARD ON THE YAS MARINA CIRCUIT
“Having had the opportunity to drive the circuit, what struck me is that it’s a two-stage track; the first half of the lap until corner nine is typical of the new type of track. There’s the fast section at the beginning from Turn One to the Turn Four tight hairpin with the grandstand literally overhead, giving great viewing for the spectators. The 1.2 kilometre back straight should give an opportunity for some slipstreaming and overtaking and then the back section of the circuit has a real street circuit feel to it, where you come along the section that takes you to the hotel and then passes underneath it, via a series of 90 degree right-handers and left-handers before opening out to the end of the lap and a medium speed corner on to the start-finish straight. The pit lane entry is very challenging, as is the exit, which is actually in a tunnel under the circuit and is going to make it particularly challenging for the drivers coming in and out of pit stops. There are great facilities and air-conditioned garages which will make working conditions in the heat a little bit easier and also having an evening race will obviously take some of the heat out of what can be a very hot venue. I think the twilight aspect of the race will be more of a visual treat for the spectators and the TV audience, but I think for the drivers it will be absolutely fine, as there is enough overhead lighting to make it blend seamlessly from day into night, no problem.”
AS WE PREPARE FOR ABU DHABI, HERE’S PART THREE OF THE 2009 FORMULA ONE SEASON … ALONG WITH A LAP FROM DAVID COULTHARD OF THE YAS MARINA CIRCUIT…
Singapore outglams Monaco, Beyonce, Black Eyed Peas, Gwen Stefani, Simple Minds, ZZ Top, In the paddock it’s breakfast at lunch, dinner at midnight and sleeping pills in the morning. Grosjean crashes at Piquet Corner, even the Renault pit wall smile, Vettel on the front row, Webber on second, but Hamilton wins. Drivers meet potential FIA presidents blah blah blah, jet lagged F1 moves on to revamped Suzuka, amusement park rollercoasters gone, but new paddock features escalators for oldies. Paper boats sail down pit lane river on Friday, Alonso announced at Ferrari, world’s most expensive game of Musical Chairs begins as we do the Driver Shuffle, Raikkonen going back to McLaren, Kubica to Renault, Barrichello to Williams in Brawn swap with Rosberg, Elvis to USF1, Glock sick Kobayashi in, Glock back, Glock crash, Glock ouch, Glock out. Buemi, Alguersuari and Webber in Crash Bang Wallop, makes life expensive for Red Bull, but Vettel keeps title fight alive with masterful drive from pole to first for third win, Sunday night mayhem in Log Cabin, as F1 folk start its planned demolition work early. Jet lag reaches record level as F1 goes back to Europe, then west to Brazil, clocks go forward, but Glock not back. Torrential rain on Saturday, pit garages boast new water features, rain pours through roof during mammoth 2h45min Saturday Qualifyathon, TV pundits talk rubbish to fill extra time, so what’s new, drivers go to loo and eat snacks, qualifying back on, crowd berserk as Rubinho gets pole, Webber on front row, but Vettel back in 16th, Webber clinches win number two – the team’s fifth of the year, Buemi in the points, but all unnoticed as a Brit finishes fifth in Sao Paulo to deny a Brazilian (and a German) the title, a case of 2008 déjà vu. Well done to Button and Brawn, Red Bull Racing secures its best-ever finish, Second in 2009 Constructors’ Championship, one more race to go as F1 goes east from Europe again, this time to Abu Dhabi and to the Yas Marina circuit, where David Coulthard drove a 2-seater Formula One car earlier this month. And this is what he had to say about it…
DAVID COULTHARD ON THE YAS MARINA CIRCUIT
“Having had the opportunity to drive the circuit, what struck me is that it’s a two-stage track; the first half of the lap until corner nine is typical of the new type of track. There’s the fast section at the beginning from Turn One to the Turn Four tight hairpin with the grandstand literally overhead, giving great viewing for the spectators. The 1.2 kilometre back straight should give an opportunity for some slipstreaming and overtaking and then the back section of the circuit has a real street circuit feel to it, where you come along the section that takes you to the hotel and then passes underneath it, via a series of 90 degree right-handers and left-handers before opening out to the end of the lap and a medium speed corner on to the start-finish straight. The pit lane entry is very challenging, as is the exit, which is actually in a tunnel under the circuit and is going to make it particularly challenging for the drivers coming in and out of pit stops. There are great facilities and air-conditioned garages which will make working conditions in the heat a little bit easier and also having an evening race will obviously take some of the heat out of what can be a very hot venue. I think the twilight aspect of the race will be more of a visual treat for the spectators and the TV audience, but I think for the drivers it will be absolutely fine, as there is enough overhead lighting to make it blend seamlessly from day into night, no problem.”
Abu Dhabi Friday practice report
Car 15 SEBASTIAN VETTEL
1st Practice P3, 2nd Practice P4
“So, that was the last Friday practice of this year. I’d like to say thanks to Renault – many people didn’t believe that we’d succeed without having to change an engine, but here we are having completed a lot of miles on another Friday without a single problem. Abu Dhabi is a new circuit, so new conditions – including starting driving in the daylight and finishing the session at night, which is quite exciting. Obviously, the circuit was very green and slippery to begin with, but overall it’s quite a thrill to drive, with some good corners. It’s also pretty special to go under a hotel! Performance wise, we’re looking quite good. We didn’t know what to expect around here, but it seems as though we’re quite competitive, although we will have to wait to see how competitive. Even though it’s a new track, it was a normal Friday practice and we were testing which tyre works best.”
Car 14 MARK WEBBER
1st Practice P8, 2nd Practice P7
“A productive first day at a new track. We had an engine change between P1 and P2 – the guys did a brilliant job to get the car turned around in time. Other than that, we got on with the normal tyre comparisons and other tests we do on a Friday – so, although a new track, a normal Friday. The track’s pretty good – it’s not Spa, but it’s also not Bahrain! It’s not bad. There was a difference in clarity between driving in the afternoon for P1 and in the early evening during P2 – it’s a different atmosphere when the lights are on, but we’re used to that from Singapore.”
STATISTICS
SEBASTIAN VETTEL
First Practice Session
Position: 3, Best Time: 1:44.153, Laps: 28, Chassis No. 1
Second Practice Session
Position: 4, Best Time 1:41.591, Laps: 37, Chassis No. 1
MARK WEBBER
First Practice Session
Position: 8, Best Time: 1:44.805, Laps: 25, Chassis No. 4
Second Practice Session
Position: 7, Best Time: 1:41.684, Laps: 34, Chassis No. 4
Car 15 SEBASTIAN VETTEL
1st Practice P3, 2nd Practice P4
“So, that was the last Friday practice of this year. I’d like to say thanks to Renault – many people didn’t believe that we’d succeed without having to change an engine, but here we are having completed a lot of miles on another Friday without a single problem. Abu Dhabi is a new circuit, so new conditions – including starting driving in the daylight and finishing the session at night, which is quite exciting. Obviously, the circuit was very green and slippery to begin with, but overall it’s quite a thrill to drive, with some good corners. It’s also pretty special to go under a hotel! Performance wise, we’re looking quite good. We didn’t know what to expect around here, but it seems as though we’re quite competitive, although we will have to wait to see how competitive. Even though it’s a new track, it was a normal Friday practice and we were testing which tyre works best.”
Car 14 MARK WEBBER
1st Practice P8, 2nd Practice P7
“A productive first day at a new track. We had an engine change between P1 and P2 – the guys did a brilliant job to get the car turned around in time. Other than that, we got on with the normal tyre comparisons and other tests we do on a Friday – so, although a new track, a normal Friday. The track’s pretty good – it’s not Spa, but it’s also not Bahrain! It’s not bad. There was a difference in clarity between driving in the afternoon for P1 and in the early evening during P2 – it’s a different atmosphere when the lights are on, but we’re used to that from Singapore.”
STATISTICS
SEBASTIAN VETTEL
First Practice Session
Position: 3, Best Time: 1:44.153, Laps: 28, Chassis No. 1
Second Practice Session
Position: 4, Best Time 1:41.591, Laps: 37, Chassis No. 1
MARK WEBBER
First Practice Session
Position: 8, Best Time: 1:44.805, Laps: 25, Chassis No. 4
Second Practice Session
Position: 7, Best Time: 1:41.684, Laps: 34, Chassis No. 4
Abu Dhabi Qualifying notes
Car 15,
SEBASTIAN VETTEL
Position 2nd
“I think both Mark and I were surprised by the gap to Lewis. He’s been quick all weekend and the McLaren seems to be generally very strong here. We could see in Q1 and Q2 that it would be difficult to match their pace, so I think this was the maximum we could do today. I’m very pleased so far, it should be a good race. The car is working well here; it just seems that our KERS button, which we have on the steering wheel, isn’t working! But, let’s see. I think we have a good race pace and the car is getting better and better. I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
C ar 14,
MARK WEBBER
Position 3rd
“A good day for the team - I’m happy to be starting near the front of the grid and we have a good chance tomorrow for a strong result. I’m surprised by Hamilton’s time, McLaren have done a very good job, no question about it, and it seems that this track suits them. We’re going to have our work cut out to beat Lewis tomorrow, but we’re going to give it our best shot. I think the KERS gives them a good advantage but, even without that, they clearly have a good car here. But, it’s a long race and anything can happen.
CHRISTIAN HORNER:
“Firstly, what a fantastic venue. Abu Dhabi has done an amazing job and the track is a brilliant addition to the calendar. It was a good final qualifying session of 2009 – both cars comfortably made it through in to Q3 and both drivers delivered really good laps. Second and third is a very strong team result. Lewis is on pole by a reasonable margin, but we hope we can push him hard in the race tomorrow. It should be a really exciting finale to the season.”
FABRICE LOM,
Renault, Principal Engineer Track Support: “A good team effort. Coming here, we didn’t think this track would suit us so well, so it’s a good result.
Second and third is the best we could do today I think, especially when we see Hamilton’s pace – he’s very, very quick, so congratulations to him for his pole position. We’ll try to make life hard for him tomorrow and score the maximum number of points to end the season on a high
Car 15,
SEBASTIAN VETTEL
Position 2nd
“I think both Mark and I were surprised by the gap to Lewis. He’s been quick all weekend and the McLaren seems to be generally very strong here. We could see in Q1 and Q2 that it would be difficult to match their pace, so I think this was the maximum we could do today. I’m very pleased so far, it should be a good race. The car is working well here; it just seems that our KERS button, which we have on the steering wheel, isn’t working! But, let’s see. I think we have a good race pace and the car is getting better and better. I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
C ar 14,
MARK WEBBER
Position 3rd
“A good day for the team - I’m happy to be starting near the front of the grid and we have a good chance tomorrow for a strong result. I’m surprised by Hamilton’s time, McLaren have done a very good job, no question about it, and it seems that this track suits them. We’re going to have our work cut out to beat Lewis tomorrow, but we’re going to give it our best shot. I think the KERS gives them a good advantage but, even without that, they clearly have a good car here. But, it’s a long race and anything can happen.
CHRISTIAN HORNER:
“Firstly, what a fantastic venue. Abu Dhabi has done an amazing job and the track is a brilliant addition to the calendar. It was a good final qualifying session of 2009 – both cars comfortably made it through in to Q3 and both drivers delivered really good laps. Second and third is a very strong team result. Lewis is on pole by a reasonable margin, but we hope we can push him hard in the race tomorrow. It should be a really exciting finale to the season.”
FABRICE LOM,
Renault, Principal Engineer Track Support: “A good team effort. Coming here, we didn’t think this track would suit us so well, so it’s a good result.
Second and third is the best we could do today I think, especially when we see Hamilton’s pace – he’s very, very quick, so congratulations to him for his pole position. We’ll try to make life hard for him tomorrow and score the maximum number of points to end the season on a high
Abu Dhabi Race
2009: 6 WINS, 16 PODIUMS
2010: BRING IT ON!
Car 15 SEBASTIAN VETTEL, Finish Position: WINNER, Start Position: 2nd
“That was a fantastic race. We had a very good start, it wasn’t good enough to overtake Lewis, but I was surprised I was so close to him. Then, when Lewis was on the long straight, he pushed a button and disappeared ahead, but I was able to stay close. We knew we were a little bit heavier and we were always able to catch him up, especially in the last sector. The car was a dream today. There was a lot of pressure, I nearly went a bit wide in the pit lane entrance during my first stop and then there was the scary exit through the tunnel, but I was on the limit and it was enough to get past Lewis. Unfortunately he then had to retire, but up to that point it was a fantastic race with him. After that I had a little bit of a cushion to Mark and Jenson behind and I was able to pace myself, but the car was fantastic until the end. It worked brilliantly on both tyre compounds and it was a pleasure to sit in the car this evening. To sum up the season, what can I say? I would say up and down, we are currently very strong and have just gained our fourth one-two finish, so congratulations to the team. They have been pushing a lot, working very hard back in the factory. It’s a shame now that the season ends, as we are on a roll! It’s just perfect to finish the season in this way on such a high.”
Car 14 MARK WEBBER, Finish Position: SECOND, Start Position: 3rd
“I made a pretty good start and had a bit of a look on the outside of Sebastian, but I knew I had to get back on the inside and get a good exit, as it was a long run down to Turn five. My car got hit quite hard on the left rear after the first corner and I was worried about a puncture. My race engineer, Ciaron, told me the tyre had enough pressure and I was relieved. It looked like Lewis was struggling a little bit in the first few laps and Sebastian and I were able to get a bit closer to him than we expected. Things then started to stabilise and I was pretty happy on the prime tyres. Sebastian was a bit quicker today in the second two race stints, especially the last one. I didn’t have much of a feeling on the option tyre and it was the same for me on Friday. I was quite slow on that and preferred the stability of the prime. Towards the end of the race, Jenson was able to close the gap to me and I thought ‘this is going to be tight’! We knew we had a slight top-speed advantage, but not much and I had to make sure I was accurate with my braking points. We had a good clean fight on the limit and the battle was a credit to how Jenson’s driven all year. I want to congratulate the team on what they have achieved and thank them for their patience with me at the start of the year when I was coming back from my accident. It’s been very enjoyable driving alongside Sebastian this year, Renault has given us a fantastic engine and overall Red Bull can be incredibly proud of what they have done. It’s been my best season to date; we’ve had 16 podiums together; it’s very good.”
CHRISTIAN HORNER, Team Principal: “That was the most brilliant way to finish the season, by gaining our fourth one-two finish and our sixth win. Both our drivers were supreme today. Sebastian drove an immaculate race and we managed to jump Lewis through good strategy, good pace and good work with the pit crew. Mark also had enough fuel to get Lewis at the next pit-stop – however, that came sooner than expected when Lewis retired. Thereafter both guys were really strong on the prime tyre. Mark lost quite a bit of time with some difficult traffic just before his final stop and then he was struggling a little bit for traction on the option tyre, so Jenson was able to close in. It was a really exciting last lap of the year and Mark did a brilliant job to hang on to second place, so congratulations to the whole team – it’s been an excellent year. Thank you to Red Bull, to Mr Mateschitz for all his support, to our engine partner Renault and all the people who have worked so hard in Milton Keynes this year for this fantastic result. We’ve learned a great deal this year and we’ll come back stronger in 2010.”
FABRICE LOM, Renault, Principal Engineer Track Support: “That's it, the season is over and it’s time to reflect on what we have achieved. Firstly, I think we’ve had a very good season: the team is second in the Championship, ahead of teams with far more experience than ourselves and we have twice as many points as McLaren or Ferrari. This is a big achievement and I would like to thank Red Bull for the excellent car they made. I also would like to thank the drivers who did a fantastic job, both in and out of the car. I mention the work they did out of the car, because both drivers stayed team members when we had difficult technical and political times with our engine. Our group team effort paid off and we only used the permitted number of engines this year. Sebastian didn’t need to use any extra engines, which is a true achievement and he even scored two more wins after he had no fresh engines left. Thank you also to all the guys in Viry and Aubigny for the good engines they have provided us. And finally, thanks to my Renault team who have worked for Red Bull at the races and tests. They did a fantastic job and they can be proud of what we have achieved this year, I am proud of them.”
CHRISTIAN HORNER:
On Red Bull Racing finishing second in the 2009 Constructors’ Championship:
“Second is a fantastic achievement for the team. In many respects the eam is still very young and it’s only our fifth season in Formula One. To have achieved 16 podiums, six wins, five pole positions and six fastest laps – including four one-two finishes – as well as in excess of 150 points, is a massive achievement. We were Championship contenders right up until the penultimate race – however the Championship ultimately wasn’t lost in Brazil and you have to show respect to the season that Jenson and Brawn had, with a very dominant early display in the Championship. We were playing catch up thereafter. I think the effort that’s gone into RB5 has been superb from every member of the team. We have to thank our partners, including Renault for their support and assistance - without which none of the results would have been possible this year. I think it’s a season that members of the team can be very proud of and, although second is one place off our ultimate target, it’s still a very good result. We’ll learn a lot of lessons from this year, which will only make us stronger going into 2010.
“In regards to the high point of the year, for me there have been several. The biggest was probably winning our first GP with a one-two finish in China. That was a really special moment for the whole team and a testimony to the support and commitment that both Red Bull and Mr. Mateschitz have made to Formula One. Winning the British GP was another high point of the season together with Mark’s first GP win two weeks later in Germany. Seb’s dominant GP drive in Japan was another, Mark’s second victory in Brazil a week ago and, of course, the one-two we have just gained here in Abu Dhabi – there are so many highlights.
“There’s no room for complacency in this sport. We’ve beaten some formidable opponents this year, but they’re not going to be sleeping. They’ve demonstrated in the second half of the year that they’ve worked very hard to recover, by winning races in Ferrari and McLaren’s case, and I’m sure they’ll be formidable opponents again next year. But, we’ll learn lessons from this year and I think, as the team has developed, it’s only got stronger. I’m convinced that it can continue to evolve and with continuity in our line-up, we’re perfectly placed to build on this year’s campaign.”
2009: 6 WINS, 16 PODIUMS
2010: BRING IT ON!
Car 15 SEBASTIAN VETTEL, Finish Position: WINNER, Start Position: 2nd
“That was a fantastic race. We had a very good start, it wasn’t good enough to overtake Lewis, but I was surprised I was so close to him. Then, when Lewis was on the long straight, he pushed a button and disappeared ahead, but I was able to stay close. We knew we were a little bit heavier and we were always able to catch him up, especially in the last sector. The car was a dream today. There was a lot of pressure, I nearly went a bit wide in the pit lane entrance during my first stop and then there was the scary exit through the tunnel, but I was on the limit and it was enough to get past Lewis. Unfortunately he then had to retire, but up to that point it was a fantastic race with him. After that I had a little bit of a cushion to Mark and Jenson behind and I was able to pace myself, but the car was fantastic until the end. It worked brilliantly on both tyre compounds and it was a pleasure to sit in the car this evening. To sum up the season, what can I say? I would say up and down, we are currently very strong and have just gained our fourth one-two finish, so congratulations to the team. They have been pushing a lot, working very hard back in the factory. It’s a shame now that the season ends, as we are on a roll! It’s just perfect to finish the season in this way on such a high.”
Car 14 MARK WEBBER, Finish Position: SECOND, Start Position: 3rd
“I made a pretty good start and had a bit of a look on the outside of Sebastian, but I knew I had to get back on the inside and get a good exit, as it was a long run down to Turn five. My car got hit quite hard on the left rear after the first corner and I was worried about a puncture. My race engineer, Ciaron, told me the tyre had enough pressure and I was relieved. It looked like Lewis was struggling a little bit in the first few laps and Sebastian and I were able to get a bit closer to him than we expected. Things then started to stabilise and I was pretty happy on the prime tyres. Sebastian was a bit quicker today in the second two race stints, especially the last one. I didn’t have much of a feeling on the option tyre and it was the same for me on Friday. I was quite slow on that and preferred the stability of the prime. Towards the end of the race, Jenson was able to close the gap to me and I thought ‘this is going to be tight’! We knew we had a slight top-speed advantage, but not much and I had to make sure I was accurate with my braking points. We had a good clean fight on the limit and the battle was a credit to how Jenson’s driven all year. I want to congratulate the team on what they have achieved and thank them for their patience with me at the start of the year when I was coming back from my accident. It’s been very enjoyable driving alongside Sebastian this year, Renault has given us a fantastic engine and overall Red Bull can be incredibly proud of what they have done. It’s been my best season to date; we’ve had 16 podiums together; it’s very good.”
CHRISTIAN HORNER, Team Principal: “That was the most brilliant way to finish the season, by gaining our fourth one-two finish and our sixth win. Both our drivers were supreme today. Sebastian drove an immaculate race and we managed to jump Lewis through good strategy, good pace and good work with the pit crew. Mark also had enough fuel to get Lewis at the next pit-stop – however, that came sooner than expected when Lewis retired. Thereafter both guys were really strong on the prime tyre. Mark lost quite a bit of time with some difficult traffic just before his final stop and then he was struggling a little bit for traction on the option tyre, so Jenson was able to close in. It was a really exciting last lap of the year and Mark did a brilliant job to hang on to second place, so congratulations to the whole team – it’s been an excellent year. Thank you to Red Bull, to Mr Mateschitz for all his support, to our engine partner Renault and all the people who have worked so hard in Milton Keynes this year for this fantastic result. We’ve learned a great deal this year and we’ll come back stronger in 2010.”
FABRICE LOM, Renault, Principal Engineer Track Support: “That's it, the season is over and it’s time to reflect on what we have achieved. Firstly, I think we’ve had a very good season: the team is second in the Championship, ahead of teams with far more experience than ourselves and we have twice as many points as McLaren or Ferrari. This is a big achievement and I would like to thank Red Bull for the excellent car they made. I also would like to thank the drivers who did a fantastic job, both in and out of the car. I mention the work they did out of the car, because both drivers stayed team members when we had difficult technical and political times with our engine. Our group team effort paid off and we only used the permitted number of engines this year. Sebastian didn’t need to use any extra engines, which is a true achievement and he even scored two more wins after he had no fresh engines left. Thank you also to all the guys in Viry and Aubigny for the good engines they have provided us. And finally, thanks to my Renault team who have worked for Red Bull at the races and tests. They did a fantastic job and they can be proud of what we have achieved this year, I am proud of them.”
CHRISTIAN HORNER:
On Red Bull Racing finishing second in the 2009 Constructors’ Championship:
“Second is a fantastic achievement for the team. In many respects the eam is still very young and it’s only our fifth season in Formula One. To have achieved 16 podiums, six wins, five pole positions and six fastest laps – including four one-two finishes – as well as in excess of 150 points, is a massive achievement. We were Championship contenders right up until the penultimate race – however the Championship ultimately wasn’t lost in Brazil and you have to show respect to the season that Jenson and Brawn had, with a very dominant early display in the Championship. We were playing catch up thereafter. I think the effort that’s gone into RB5 has been superb from every member of the team. We have to thank our partners, including Renault for their support and assistance - without which none of the results would have been possible this year. I think it’s a season that members of the team can be very proud of and, although second is one place off our ultimate target, it’s still a very good result. We’ll learn a lot of lessons from this year, which will only make us stronger going into 2010.
“In regards to the high point of the year, for me there have been several. The biggest was probably winning our first GP with a one-two finish in China. That was a really special moment for the whole team and a testimony to the support and commitment that both Red Bull and Mr. Mateschitz have made to Formula One. Winning the British GP was another high point of the season together with Mark’s first GP win two weeks later in Germany. Seb’s dominant GP drive in Japan was another, Mark’s second victory in Brazil a week ago and, of course, the one-two we have just gained here in Abu Dhabi – there are so many highlights.
“There’s no room for complacency in this sport. We’ve beaten some formidable opponents this year, but they’re not going to be sleeping. They’ve demonstrated in the second half of the year that they’ve worked very hard to recover, by winning races in Ferrari and McLaren’s case, and I’m sure they’ll be formidable opponents again next year. But, we’ll learn lessons from this year and I think, as the team has developed, it’s only got stronger. I’m convinced that it can continue to evolve and with continuity in our line-up, we’re perfectly placed to build on this year’s campaign.”
JEREZ TEST, DAY ONE
Driver: Daniel Ricciardo
Car: RB5-02
Time: 1:19.534
Laps: 113
Circuit length: 4.423 km
Fastest Lap: Andy Soucek (Williams) 1:19.158
Several teams are at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit for what has been designated a ‘young driver test’, a measure introduced as a result of the ban on in-season testing. Red Bull Racing is fielding this year’s British Formula 3 Champion and Red Bull Junior Driver, Daniel Ricciardo. Although the Australian suffered a spin early on in today’s testing, he was soon back on track and ended the day with the fourth fastest time. “I don’t think I stopped smiling all day,” he said after the session was over. “Working with the team was great and they let me go at my own pace until I built up some confidence. After that, we began working on things that will be useful for next season. This was the first time I’ve ever driven a Formula One car round corners, having previously only done a straight line test and I have to say, it’s got more grip than anything else I’ve ever driven.”
The team was impressed with Daniel’s first drive and, as he seems to have survived the physical demands of a day in the cockpit of a Formula One car, he should be back in action tomorrow, when the testing continues.
Driver: Daniel Ricciardo
Car: RB5-02
Time: 1:19.534
Laps: 113
Circuit length: 4.423 km
Fastest Lap: Andy Soucek (Williams) 1:19.158
Several teams are at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit for what has been designated a ‘young driver test’, a measure introduced as a result of the ban on in-season testing. Red Bull Racing is fielding this year’s British Formula 3 Champion and Red Bull Junior Driver, Daniel Ricciardo. Although the Australian suffered a spin early on in today’s testing, he was soon back on track and ended the day with the fourth fastest time. “I don’t think I stopped smiling all day,” he said after the session was over. “Working with the team was great and they let me go at my own pace until I built up some confidence. After that, we began working on things that will be useful for next season. This was the first time I’ve ever driven a Formula One car round corners, having previously only done a straight line test and I have to say, it’s got more grip than anything else I’ve ever driven.”
The team was impressed with Daniel’s first drive and, as he seems to have survived the physical demands of a day in the cockpit of a Formula One car, he should be back in action tomorrow, when the testing continues.
JEREZ TEST, DAY TWO
Driver: Daniel Ricciardo
Car: RB5-02
Time: 1:19.243
Laps: 92
Circuit length: 4.423 km
Fastest Lap: Gary Paffett (McLaren) 1:18.718
For his second day in an F1 cockpit, Daniel Ricciardo tackled a similar programme to yesterday, which involved getting to grips with the actual driving and procedures that are unique to these cars, as well as trying two different tyre compounds. The Australian also carried out various tests aimed at the 2010 season: aero and brake testing, as well as running the car in the very heavy configuration resulting from next year’s ban on race refuelling.
“I found it a bit easier today,” said Daniel. “I knew what to expect this morning and the procedures were easier to understand, so I was able to concentrate on improving my driving and hopefully give my best in terms of providing the engineers with good feedback.”
Ricciardo will be back in the cockpit for the final day of testing this year.
Driver: Daniel Ricciardo
Car: RB5-02
Time: 1:19.243
Laps: 92
Circuit length: 4.423 km
Fastest Lap: Gary Paffett (McLaren) 1:18.718
For his second day in an F1 cockpit, Daniel Ricciardo tackled a similar programme to yesterday, which involved getting to grips with the actual driving and procedures that are unique to these cars, as well as trying two different tyre compounds. The Australian also carried out various tests aimed at the 2010 season: aero and brake testing, as well as running the car in the very heavy configuration resulting from next year’s ban on race refuelling.
“I found it a bit easier today,” said Daniel. “I knew what to expect this morning and the procedures were easier to understand, so I was able to concentrate on improving my driving and hopefully give my best in terms of providing the engineers with good feedback.”
Ricciardo will be back in the cockpit for the final day of testing this year.
JEREZ TEST, DAY THREE
Driver: Daniel Ricciardo
Car: RB5-02
Time: 1:17.418
Laps: 77
Circuit length: 4.423 km
Fastest Lap: See above
This was the final day of Formula 1 testing for 2009 and once again, Daniel Ricciardo was at the wheel of the RB5 in Jerez, where the past three days were restricted to drivers having competed in fewer than three Grands Prix. Following on from the past two days, the team again worked on aerodynamic testing aimed at 2010, getting through its entire programme, even though track time was shortened by some light rain in the middle of the day. Ricciardo’s performance was impressive and in fact, his best lap today was the fastest recorded at the Jerez circuit this year.
“These last three days have been an incredible experience for me,” said Daniel, as he reluctantly stepped out of the cockpit. “I would like to thank Red Bull for giving me this great opportunity, which has made me even more determined to make it into Formula 1 one day. I know it was just a test, but seeing my name on the top of today’s timesheet was really something special.”
Driver: Daniel Ricciardo
Car: RB5-02
Time: 1:17.418
Laps: 77
Circuit length: 4.423 km
Fastest Lap: See above
This was the final day of Formula 1 testing for 2009 and once again, Daniel Ricciardo was at the wheel of the RB5 in Jerez, where the past three days were restricted to drivers having competed in fewer than three Grands Prix. Following on from the past two days, the team again worked on aerodynamic testing aimed at 2010, getting through its entire programme, even though track time was shortened by some light rain in the middle of the day. Ricciardo’s performance was impressive and in fact, his best lap today was the fastest recorded at the Jerez circuit this year.
“These last three days have been an incredible experience for me,” said Daniel, as he reluctantly stepped out of the cockpit. “I would like to thank Red Bull for giving me this great opportunity, which has made me even more determined to make it into Formula 1 one day. I know it was just a test, but seeing my name on the top of today’s timesheet was really something special.”