© Getty ImagesThe Highs and Lows of ShanghaiAs we head back to Shanghai after a four-season absence, it’s time to look back and the good and the not so good…
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There has been plenty of action over the 15 years the Bulls have competed in China. So, let’s look back at some of the more memorable moments…
China was the third race of the 2009 season and it’s where the Team first made everyone sit up and take notice. Red Bull Racing wasn’t just here to make up the numbers.
Sebastian Vettel qualified on pole with Mark Webber in P3. The race was wet and caused a lot of carnage, but the Bulls kept their cool. The Brawns of Jensen Button and Rubens Barrichello pitted on laps 42 and 43, they came out behind Seb and Mark and that’s how it stayed until the chequered flag.
The result ticked a lot of boxes for the Team. It was the first pole for the Team, the first win and the first one-two finish. Look out F1, Red Bull Racing has arrived!
TheWheelsComeOff–Literally
The 2013 Chinese Grand Prix was a tough weekend for Mark Webber. After finishing P4 in the opening qualifying session he then ran out of fuel in Q2. Therefore, he was unable to provide a fuel sample and was forced to start from the back of the grid.
On race day, Mark had to pit for new tyres at the end of lap one. Then on lap 14 he collided with the Toro Rosso of Jean-Éric Vergne forcing both drivers to pit. On the following lap as Mark attacked the hairpin his rear right wheel came off, forcing his retirement. One of only three in the entire season.
In his 23 races for Red Bull Racing, Daniil Kvyat was only able to take two podiums, his second of which was in China.
Daniil qualified in P6 and had plenty of work to do to ensure he stood on the podium. An early safety car saw Daniil pit for fresh rubber and emerge in P4. On lap 35 Both Daniil and Seb – driving for Ferrari – pitted. Daniil was able to get out ahead of the German into P2, but Seb was able to claim P2 away from him, but the Russian driver took P3 for the Team and 15 points.
Looking back to 2018 you wouldn’t believe how different it could’ve been. At the start of Q1 the Team were busy trying to reassemble the engine of Daniel Ricciardo’s RB14 which required a rebuild after his turbo failed.
He got out on track with just three minutes remaining and was able to put in one hot lap. His time of 1:33.877 was enough to put him P14 and into Q2. He came through Q2 in P7 and after Q3 was placed sixth on the grid.
The race was a fantastic strategic call. With around two-thirds of the race complete, the Safety Car was deployed and the Team called in both Max and Daniel. When they returned to the track, Max was in P4 and Daniel P6. All the other front runners stayed out on track.
The fresh rubber worked wonders and Daniel was able to start carving up the track overtaking the cars in front of him, and by lap 45 he was in P1 where he stayed until he took the chequered flag.
The Bulls return to Shanghai this weekend for the first time in five years. And it will be the first sprint race weekend of the season. Free Practice One begins at 11:30 track time (03:30 UTC).
