Now Reading
Dietrich Mateschitz (78): From sponsor, to owner, to champion
How Hot Wheels are made
Running up that hill
Postcards from Zandvoort
A photographer’s view on Senna
The long tail Alpine is back
Desert cowboy René Metge dead at 82
Alain Prost dons the red once more
HWA builds Mercedes 190 Evo II restomod
Radnor tells tales of the unexpected
Why you must visit this new museum
Oslo Motor Show goes full throttle
2023 Salon Privé: Pride of the Manceau
Here comes a 60-million Holy Grail
Festival of Speed Down Under
Ever seen a Dakar Porsche 959 strip?
Goodwood remembers Carroll Shelby
King of Gymkhana Ken Block (55) dies
In Tazio 6: Jimmie Johnson opens up
The first Tazio slipcase has arrived
Goodwood Members’ Meeting goes GT1
Masters Historic opens up to GT4 racers
And so, we bid farewell to Padova
Michael Andretti: like father, like son
When Mario saw Indy slip away again
One man, one car, one championship
Alfa Romeo celebrates 100 years of Monza
Bernina Gran Turismo shakes up the Alps
Get ready for Goodwood Revival
When the runway is not for taking off
On losing Chánh
Porsche Group C parade at Silverstone
Pebble Beach Concours on the move
Oldtimer GP is back in full force
Smokin’ the Festival of Speed
Impressions from the Mille Miglia
In Tazio 4: Walter by Christian
BRMs (and more) fly at Blyton Park
Retromobile 2022 is McLaren heaven
The Amelia praises Chip Ganassi
Now in Issue 2: Tazio’s hardest fight
Now in Issue 2: how Zagato met Ferrari
Keep it cool
Tazio 2, the limited one
Fuori Concorso: Stealing the light
See racing cars at the sea
Spa Six Hours: Thunder in the forest
Arriva Tazio: We drive the MG Metro 6R4
Group C roars at Jim Clark Memorial

Dietrich Mateschitz (78): From sponsor, to owner, to champion

+3
View Gallery

Mister Red Bull Dietrich Mateschitz (78) passed away on October 22nd. On the current Formula 1 grid, eight of the twenty drivers owe their career to Red Bull. But there is no denying either that other drivers were ruthlessly chewed out by the Red Bull machine when found underperforming.

First and foremost, apart from Bernie Ecclestone, Dietrich Mateschitz has been the most influential man in Formula One over the last twenty years. By creating an academy that guided young drivers all the way through the ranks, Red Bull has given some underfinanced youngsters the possibility to still break through.

Dietrich Mateschitz. Photo Red Bull Content Pool

Sponsorship

Austrian Dietrich Mateschitz took his big leap into the unknown in the mid-eighties when he decided to invest the equivalent of 500,000 euros in an energy drink he got to know in Asia. In joint-venture with Chaleo Yoovidhya, the Thai owner of the drink, he decided to launch Red Bull worldwide. Knowing there was no existing market, creating an image was critical. Mateschitz quickly decided to focus on extreme sports.

2015, Legends Race at Red Bull Ring. Gerhard Berger in the Ferrari with some of his mates. Photo Red Bull Content Pool

Gerhard Berger

The first to be photographed drinking Red Bull was fellow Austrian Gerhard Berger, then a Ferrari driver in 1987. But that was more because he really liked the stuff. In 1995, Red Bull appeared for the first time in Formula 1 as a sponsor with Sauber. In one of the rare cases of misjudgement, Mateschitz pulled out from Sauber after the 2004 season. The reason behind it: in 2001 Peter Sauber had stubbornly decided he would give a young Fin with just 23 races of racing experience in junior single-seaters a seat in his F1 car. Mateschitz wanted the seat to go to Red Bull protégé Enrique Bernoldi. History shows on this occasion Sauber’s bet on Kimi Raikkonen was the right one.

Sauber

Mateschitz left Sauber to embark on a bigger adventure. He bought the ailing Jaguar team from Ford and made Red Bull Racing a constructor in Formula 1. Mateschitz made the unexperienced but highly ambitious Christian Horner team boss. Horner got Adrian Newey on board, and together with Sebastian Vettel bagged the first world title in 2010. Vettel added three more world titles on the trot. Vettel had come over from Toro Rosso – previously Minardi – the second F1-team Mateschitz bought, together with Gerhard Berger this time.

Pierre Gasly and Helmut Marko in talks, Baku 2022. Photo Red Bull Content Pool

Helmut Marko

The man critical in sorting the talent out in the Red Bull organization is Helmut Marko. The former driver was Mateschitz’ eyes and ears on the track. Marko has been essential in making sure the talent came through: Max Verstappen, Carlos Sainz Jr, Vettel, Mark Webber. The downside has been: the Red Bull school is a tough one. Both Horner and Marko are ruthless when a driver does not live up to the standard. Pierre Ghasly is one of the few who was sent back to Toro Rosso after a disappointing spell with Red Bull, but managed to bounce back from it.

Christian Horner and Helmut Marko talk in the garage during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Austria at Red Bull Ring on July 09, 2022. Photo Red Bull Content Pool

Alex Albon was unceremoniously dispatched to go drive a Ferrari GT3 in DTM after failing to meet the standard while at Red Bull. Scott Speed, Vitantoniu Liuzzi, Jean-Eric Vergne, Sébastien Buemi… all victims who fell by the side of the road. Helmut Marko has always made it clear Red Bull was there to help a big pool of drivers early in their careers, but that they could only continue with the ones who would be able to win in their F1 cars.

See Also

Sebastien Loeb in Monte Carlo, Monaco on January 17th, 2012. Photo Red Bull Content Pool

Loeb

Next to Formula 1, Red Bull is or was present in rally, Nascar and the Indy Racing League too, next to a long list of other sports. Sébastien Loeb paid tribute to Mateschitz on Facebook, thanking him for the chance to drive an F1 car among others.

One final element of Mateschitz was his enormous investment in his home region Steiermark in Austria and in Salzburg. Mateschitz bought and renovated the old Österreichring (commonly known as Zeltweg). The track is now known as the Red Bull Ring. Next to that, he also owned the Salzburgring and built up the event hall Hangar 7 at the Salzburg airport.

Hangar 7. Photo Red Bull Content Pool

Dietrich Mateschitz had been ill for some time. He could not have been handed a greater tribute then Max Verstappen’s victory in Sunday’s US Grand Prix, handing Red Bull another constructor world title.

What's Your Reaction?
Excited
0
Happy
0
In Love
0
Not Sure
0
Sad
3
View Comments (0)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


© 2024 Tazio Publishing B.V., Wannegemstraat 18B 9750 Huise, Belgium. All Rights Reserved. No unauthorized copying is allowed.