Race Recall: Australia

The highs and lows of the Team’s races at Albert Park

Australia

one

the

great

races

the

Formula

One

calendar.

Melbourne

comes

alive

when

the

Teams

come

town,

with

massive

crowds

and

thrilling

racing

the

bumpy,

but

fast,

street

circuit.

Albert Park provides for some excellent racing but the teams all need to make sure their cars are set up correctly or it can be a nightmare of a weekend for the drivers.

It has been the season opener on and off for many years and was in fact the location the Team’s first ever formula one Grand Prix. Everyone assumed that the garage playing loud music was just there to party and make up the numbers, but all those thoughts were soon dispelled David Coulthard finished the race in P4 and his teammate Christian Klien in P5. Red Bull Racing had arrived!

Red Bull Racing Had Arrived Down Under

The Team hasn’t always had great results at Albert Park. As an early race it’s a location where the Team is still trying to iron out any issues they might have with the car. In fact, the Bulls wouldn’t get both cars over the finish line in Australia again until 2011 where Sebastian Vettel would be returning with his RB7 wearing the number one badge after he claimed his first World Championship in 2010.

The race saw Seb claim the win for the Team with teammate Mark Webber finishing P5, this has remained the best finish for the Team in Australia – so far! Sebastian went on to finish second in 2012 and third the year after.

The Honey Badger Makes His Aussie Debut in 2014

Daniel Ricciardo made his debut for the Team in Australia in 2014. And at first, it went really well. Ricciardo became the first Australian to finish on the podium at his home race when he finished in P2, but he was later disqualified due to his RB10 exceeding the maximum fuel flow level. Daniel recalls how great it was to race at home in Formula One. “My first ever race here with Red Bull was the first year with the hybrids so they were still relatively quiet. In Q3 I had pole position for about 10 seconds and it was probably the first time I had ever heard the crowd cheer because it was so big. That was a real special moment for me,”.

Buzzing Down Under

Daniel went on to explain why being an Australian and racing at in Melbourne is so special: “You can feel the support from the crowd out on track and you just get an extra buzz. Anyone’s home race is where they have the most people cheering and wishing them well and that adds a little bit of extra pressure, but it’s a positive pressure, you want to make everyone have a good weekend, so it’s a nice feeling.”

It would take until 2019 for the Bulls to step on the podium again when Max Verstappen finished in P3. And then in 2020 the race was cancelled at the 11th hour due to the outbreak of COVID-19.

There were highs and lows again when the Australian Grand Prix returned in 2022 with Checo claiming second place, but Max having to retire from the race on lap 38 due to a fuel leak.

Dutch Lion Retired Down Under

Checo Claims Podium Down Under

It’s been a while since the Team has stood on the top spot on the podium, but Daniel knows what it will take for the Bulls to claim their third race of the season. “When Albert Park was the season opener the key to winning was just surviving turn one and lap one. When you haven’t raced for a few months, everyone is pretty eager to go. It’s been famous for some lap one crashes in the past,” he explained before concluding by saying: “Even now it’s an early race so you have to be disciplined, keeping a level head and getting into a good rhythm.”

With the Bulls riding high so far this season, this weekend at Albert Park could be the best in the Team’s history!

Bulls Go Down Under