News of the death of Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz also overshadowed the US GP. Max Verstappen wanted to take pole position in his honor, but the Ferraris were faster. In the end, Carlos Sainz wins qualifying in Austin.
Spanish Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz took pole position at the US Formula 1 Grand Prix on Saturday (local time). Next to him on the front row on Sunday (from 9pm on the Sport24 live ticker) will be Dutchman Max Verstappen in his Red Bull. The race and weekend are heavily influenced by the death of Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz on Saturday.
Verstappen, new and former world champion, benefits from the relegation of second-placed Monegasque Charles Leclerc in qualifying due to unauthorized engine changes in his Ferrari by ten places. Lewis Hamilton in Mercedes starts from position three, directly in front of his British teammate George Russell. Sainz fended off Verstappen’s attack by nearly a tenth of a second, Hamilton was already nearly six tenths behind.
“Red Bull has a strong car,” Sainz said after the job was done. “But I’ll try to stay ahead as long as I can.” Leclerc lost 0.065s to his teammate on the track, but was not entirely satisfied. Strong wind would constantly change the handling. “The last lap wasn’t the best either. I’m starting further back, but I’ll try to get to the front as quickly as possible. I’m not going to do anything crazy, but I’m going to take every chance.”
Verstappen believes in victory in Austin
When asked about the sporting aspect, Verstappen was confident: “We’re always a little bit faster in the race than in qualifying. If we can get the tires a little better in the race work window, we’ll definitely be there. I’m expecting a great race.” Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff was aggressive. “We started third, fourth – everything is there. That was never our strong path so I’m positively surprised,” said the Viennese. “Everyone was very close, several can win. Let’s try to win.”
Like Leclerc, Mexican Red Bull driver Sergio Perez, who finished fourth in the standings, Spaniard Fernando Alonso in Alpine and Alfa-Romeo Guanyu Zhou had to go down due to unauthorized engine changes, but only five places each. A new internal combustion engine and a new turbocharger have been installed in Leclerc’s car, so he needs to drop another five places.
This increases Red Bull Racing’s chances of securing its first constructors’ title since 2013 in Texas. For this not to happen, the pursuer Ferrari needs to add 19 more points. If Verstappen wins, the previous twelve-time winner in 2022 would set the season record for Germans Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel.
Formula 1 regrets Mr. red bull
The latter, as a former four-time world champion with Red Bull, was greatly affected by Mateschitz’s death. “I have very, very beautiful, good memories. Overall, the relationship – I was still very, very young at the time – was always on par with him and I learned to appreciate being treated with a lot of respect by him.” Verstappen was also taken: “This is difficult news – for Red Bull, for the whole sport, but also for me personally. My career would not have been possible without him.” The entire paddock was shocked and worried.
Formula 1 is in mourning. Immediately before qualifying began in Austin/Texas, news of Dietrich Mateschitz’s death reached the F1 motorcade on Saturday night local time and put the sport on the back burner. Long-time teammates but also sporting competitors paid tribute to the work of the Styrian, who brought a breath of fresh air to Formula 1 with big money, commitment and innovation when Red Bull Racing joined in 2005.
“We knew he was in a very serious state of health. But still, now that it has happened, it is incomprehensible to all of us that such a great personality had to resign so soon,” Helmut Marko told Ö3. As Red Bull’s motorsport consultant, Marko has helped shape the team’s entry and rise to four world championship drivers’ titles with German Sebastian Vettel (2010-2013) and most recently two with Dutchman Max Verstappen (2021, 2022). .
“I wouldn’t be sitting there without him”
“Without him I wouldn’t be sitting there, it’s an incredibly difficult day,” said Verstappen, who arrived in Formula 1 from the Red Bull Junior Team via Italian second team Toro Rosso and became a star of the Red Bull team. went up. For the Dutchman in Austin, his quest for records has become a minor issue. “The qualifying result is not important. The important thing is to remember Dietrich and what he has done for us as a team, also for all of Formula 1 and for the Red Bull family.”
Verstappen and Vettel, who both seemed emotionally affected, also emphasized personal contact with Mateschitz. “He was always super nice and considerate to me. He believed in me and a lot of other riders as young athletes and gave him so many incredible opportunities,” Verstappen recalled.
In the interview with ORF, Vettel also emphasized the always good and respectful treatment of his sponsor. “I have very, very good, good memories. In general, the relationship – I was still very, very young at the time – was always on an equal footing with him, and I learned to enjoy being treated with a lot of respect,” said the four-time champion. world, who admired Mateschitz’s courage and entrepreneurial conviction. “It was always very special that he was able to do something that others didn’t think possible – no matter what. Now it’s a huge shock to everyone who has accompanied him on this journey.”
Horner with touching words
“His integrity, passion, vision, motivation, support and humor will never be forgotten,” Christian Horner wrote on Instagram. Mateschitz chose him to lead the Red Bull racing team. To this day, Horner, now 48, is the team boss. “So many people owe you so much, none more than me.”
Mateschitz entered Formula 1 in 2005 with the purchase of Jaguar and the conversion to Red Bull Racing. Later, a second pillar of Formula 1 was added with the junior team Toro Rosso (now AlphaTauri). With drivers from its own ancestry, Red Bull quickly caught up with the top teams and dominated Formula 1 from 2010 to 2013, with four titles in the drivers’ (Vettel) and constructors’ championship. After years of Mercedes dominance, Verstappen made it in last year’s jump back to the top. This year, Red Bull Racing has the great opportunity to win both world championships for the first time since 2013. “Now we will be sure to get the constructor’s title in his honor this weekend,” Marko announced on Sky TV.
It shocked the competition too
Formula 1 managing director Stefano Domenicali praised Mateschitz as an “incredibly visionary entrepreneur”. And even the fiercest competitors, otherwise happy to be united in reproofs and accusations, bowed in unison to the Styrian’s life’s work.
For him, Mateschitz is the most impressive businessman “we’ve ever had in Austria, if not the whole world,” said Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff. Born in Vienna, he added: “He created a brand and an area that didn’t exist before. What he did for the sport and how much he gave to the sport didn’t exist before.” Ferrari CEO John Elkann praised Mateschitz’s passion and courage as an entrepreneur. He was a man who always loved new challenges.
Mateschitz was also remembered in the penultimate MotoGP race of the season on Sunday in Sepang/Malaysia. Ahead of the race, the founder of Red Bull, who is represented in the motorcycle world championship as the main partner of the KTM factory team, was honored with a minute of applause instead of a minute of silence. “He was a motorsport lover whose support was as important in the two-wheel world as it is in the four-wheel world. We send our deepest condolences to his loved ones,” said the MotoGP organization. “Thanks for everything Didi,” said KTM.