Red Bull’s rise to the top is a fairytale

From a rookie team in 2005 to a double championship-winning outfit in 2011, Red Bull Racing's F1 story is a fairytale

Red Bull's rise to the top is a fairytale

From a rookie team in 2005 to a double championship-winning outfit in 2011, Red Bull Racing's F1 story is a fairytale

Red Bull Racing was formed when Red Bull energy drinks owner Dietrich Mateschitz decided to buy the struggling Jaguar Racing team towards the end of the 2004 Formula1 season. At the start of their racing career in 2005, Mateschitz appointed Christian Horner as the team boss who in-turn recruited F1 veteran David Coulthard as the team's no. 1 driver to lead the team forward alongwith Red Bull backed racer Christian Klien.

RBR's double championship-winning driver Sebastian Vettel

Red Bull tasted limited success in their debut season after the team scored 34 points to finish 7th in the Constructor's Championship. However, the team's biggest breakthrough in 2005 was when they signed Mclaren's ace technical director Adrian Newey. With Newey designing their cars, the team went from strength to strength and claimed their first ever podium at the 2006 Monaco Grand Prix.

In their span of 7 years in Formula1, Red Bull Racing has used engines from various engine manufacturers including Cosworth and Ferrari before settling with Renault from the 2007 season. The team's first pole position and victory came during the 2009 Formula 1 season, when the team started to show its competitive streak on track. In 2009, the team finished runners up in the Championship behind Brawn GP.

In 2010, Red Bull Racing won their first ever World Constructor's Championship with 9 victories and also their first ever World Driver's Championship with Sebastian Vettel. Red Bull as a brand has been active in the sport since 1995, when they partnered with Sauber Motorsport.

Also, Red Bull Racing has a B-team (or a sister team) in Toro Rosso, which is now an independent privateer team in the sport. 'Red Bull Juniour' is Red Bull's program to hunt for young racing talent and is one of the most successful ones in the sport till date.

Red Bull's off-track activities have been most notable of all F1 teams till date as they believe in making F1 'fun'. Their marketing efforts with Superman Returns, Star Wars and Ocean's Twelve have been one of the most talked in the pit lane.

Red Bull Racing started the season strongest amongst all teams and has scored 15 pole positions of the 16 races so far. Sebastian Vettel has recorded 12 pole positions and 10 victories so far this season and his worst performance has only been a '4th'.

Such has been Vettel's domination that his teammate Mark Webber has yet to score a victory this season. The team has finished outside the top five positions in a race only once so far this season. At the 2011 Japanese Grand Prix, Sebastian Vettel successfully defended his Driver's Championship title and became the sport's youngest ever double World Champion. Yesterday, at the Korean GP, Red Bull defended their Constructor's title after Vettel and Webber finished first and third respectively securing 558 points for the team. Their closest competitor McLaren is 140 points behind.

2011 victories: 10
2011 points scored: 558 (1st)

Indian GP predictions
Red Bull Racing's RB7 has been the fastest car on track at most of the circuits this season and it has proved its might at the tight and twisty circuit of Monaco and at the super fast circuit of Monza.

I would expect the characteristic of the Buddh International Circuit to suit the RB7 as well, which is known for its aerodynamic efficiency. Red Bull is the best poised team to clinch pole and victory in India.

While Red Bull Racing and Vettel have dominated the entire 2011 season, Mark Webber has been unable to score a victory yet. Will he be able to do so at the first-ever Indian Grand Prix?

Red Bull Racing Team
*u00a0Established: 2005
* First Race: 2005 Australian GP
* First victory: 2009 Chinese GP
* No of Championships: 2 (Constructors), 1 (Drivers)
* Key Management: Christian Horner (Team Principal), Adrian Newey (Chief Technical Officer)

2011 driver line-up
* Sebastian Vettel (Car No 1), Mark Webber (Car No 2)
* 2011 Car: Red Bull RB7
* 2011 Engine Type: Renault RS27-2011

India Connect
* Red Bull Racing was one of the first F1 teams to bring its show car to India for a demo run when it brought David Coulthard to Mumbai in 2009.

Pre-Indian GP activities
* Red Bull Speed Street was organised in Delhi post the Singapore GP where Red Bull's test driver Daniel Ricciardo drove the Red Bull showcar on Rajpath.
* Red Bull Racing has tied up with retail chain Big Bazaar for events and promotions leading up to the Indian Grand Prix.
* Red Bull Racing and Amity University are running contest based promotions for engineering students who stand to win a chance to spend a day at the Red Bull Racing factory in Milton Keynes.

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