Texas, Oct. 22 (Reuters) Formula One and the championship-leading Red Bull team mourned Dietrich Mateschitz,
the Austrian founder of the energy drink corporation, who died on Saturday at the age of 78.
Red Bull Racing’s Christian Horner revealed the news ahead of qualifying for the United States Grand Prix in Austin,
Texas, where the team can win its fifth constructors’ championship.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has already won the driver’s championship for the second year running.
“What he (Mateschitz) achieved and what he’s done for so many people around the world, across different sports, is
second to none,” Horner said.
“We owe so much to him for the opportunities he’s provided, the vision he had, the strength of character, and never
being afraid to chase your dreams,” he told Sky Sports television. He demonstrated that you can make a difference in
Formula One, and many drivers, team members, and people in the pitlane owe him a lot.
Mateschitz purchased the Ford-owned Jaguar squad at the end of 2004 and transformed it into Red Bull Racing, an
enterprise with a maverick image but a fierce competitive spirit.
The Austrian also purchased the Italy-based Minardi team and renamed it Toro Rosso, which is Italian for Red Bull.
They are currently competing under AlphaTauri, the company’s fashion brand.
The addition of Adrian Newey, one of the sport’s finest designers who had created title-winning cars for Williams
and McLaren, accelerated Red Bull’s advancement, and Germany’s Sebastian Vettel won four consecutive titles from
2010 to 2013.
Red Bull also won the constructors’ championship for all four seasons.
“I am deeply saddened by the news that Dietrich Mateschitz, a hugely respected and much-loved member of the
Formula One family, has passed away,” said Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali.
“He was an incredible visionary entrepreneur and a man who helped to transform our sport and created the Red Bull
brand that is known all around the world.”
