07.20.2011
, Hungaroring Circuit, Budapest, Hungary
INFINITI GLOBAL BRAND AMBASSADOR SEBASTIAN VETTEL LOOKS AHEAD TO THE HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX
Inspired Performance, by Sebastian Vettel:
“I always find the Hungaroring is a bit crazy – but in a very positive way! The Hungarians have been mad about motor sport, even before Formula 1 went to Hungary for the first time in 1986. Having been starved of top level motor racing for so long, they came in their tens of thousands to the Hungaroring, and it’s been like that ever since.
But for me, what makes this race really nice is that lots of fans from other countries like to come to Hungary. Particularly Scandinavians. It’s no coincidence that sunshine and high temperatures probably contribute to the slightly crazy atmosphere! For the drivers, though, that makes the race very hard work. It’s a tricky track to drive; quite bumpy and rough. But, adding to the difficulty, there are a succession of corners throughout most of the 2.7-mile lap. That means there is no breathing space as one corner seems to fire you into the next. And, because the lap speeds are quite slow as a result, the Grand Prix lasts for about an hour and three-quarters.
There’s no question this race is a huge challenge – but challenges are a big part of the exciting synergy that unites Infiniti and Red Bull Racing.
In some ways, the Hungaroring is like Monaco. The only difference is there’s no concrete walls and steel barriers edging the track – and no glittering harbour and Royal Palace in the background! But that does not lessen the amount of mental and physical effort required. On such a tight and twisting track, you need full concentration for 190 miles.
That’s where I went wrong in this race last year. We had a very competitive car. I had led from pole, made a planned pit stop and was running second behind my Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber when the Safety Car appeared. At the re-start, I lost radio contact and was waiting for an instruction about when the Safety Car would come in. I thought we had another lap. I dropped too far behind, lost a lot of momentum and then got a drive-through penalty which lost me a couple of places.
Mark won and that was a great result for the team. But I was disappointed with third because I felt it could have been one of our best races. I really did believe we could produce an Inspired Performance. That’s why I’m looking forward so much to going back to this slightly crazy place! I really want to set the record straight.”
From the 2011 season, Infiniti is a major partner of the Red Bull Racing team and features prominently on the race-winning RB7 driven by Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber.
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Notes to editors
Infiniti, the luxury automotive brand from Japan, reflects its brand promise “Inspired Performance” with a model line-up of sedans, coupés, SUVs and crossovers featuring exhilarating performance, emotive design and cutting edge technology. Infiniti continues to launch across the globe through a dedicated network of Infiniti Centres that share a commitment to exceptional hospitality throughout the entire period of ownership.
For further information on Infiniti in Formula One, contact:
Tom Foy
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tfoy@infiniti-performanceteam.com
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