Red Bull confirm Coulthard for 2008 and sign Willis

Ed · Post by Ed » Sat Jul 07, 2007 2:22 am

The Red Bull Racing team has confirmed that the team has extended its contract with David Coulthard for 2008. Mark Webber is already contracted with the team for next year.

The statement read:

Red Bull Racing is pleased to announce that it has extended its contract with David Coulthard to the end of the 2008 Formula One season. This means the team's driver pairing for next year remains unchanged.

Southernman · Post by **Southernman** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 4:29 am

I just hope that Red Bull employ someone that can get their cars to last the distance.

Coulthard so far this year: 5 DNFs, 5th, 13th, 14th. Webber 3 DNFs 7th, 9th, 10th, 12th 13th. Thats not good reading.

gkaytaz · Post by **gkaytaz** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 5:05 am

Southernman wrote:I just hope that Red Bull employ someone that can get their cars to last the distance.

Coulthard so far this year: 5 DNFs, 5th, 13th, 14th. Webber 3 DNFs 7th, 9th, 10th, 12th 13th. Thats not good reading.

DC had some hardware problems:
Malaysia: brakes
Bahrain: driveshaft
Canada: gearbox

Only Australia and US were accidents. If RedBulls get more reliable DC will score more points. Perhaps no podium but he'll scrape up 7th & 8th spots consistently.

jacfan · Post by **jacfan** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 1:04 pm

gkaytaz wrote:
Southernman wrote:I just hope that Red Bull employ someone that can get their cars to last the distance.

Coulthard so far this year: 5 DNFs, 5th, 13th, 14th. Webber 3 DNFs 7th, 9th, 10th, 12th 13th. Thats not good reading.
DC had some hardware problems:
Malaysia: brakes
Bahrain: driveshaft
Canada: gearbox

Only Australia and US were accidents. If RedBulls get more reliable DC will score more points. Perhaps no podium but he'll scrape up 7th & 8th spots consistently.

I think DCs time as a major competitor are over but like gkay I do believe he can certainly mop up a few points here and there.

gkaytaz · Post by **gkaytaz** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 4:52 am

jacfan wrote:I think DCs time as a major competitor are over but like gkay I do believe he can certainly mop up a few points here and there.

Yep. I consider him to be one of the better drivers out there... The hardware might have been his problem lately but I think he is past his prime, like jacfan says.

RE30B#16 · Post by **RE30B#16** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 6:12 am

gkaytaz wrote:
jacfan wrote:I think DCs time as a major competitor are over but like gkay I do believe he can certainly mop up a few points here and there.
Yep. I consider him to be one of the better drivers out there... The hardware might have been his problem lately but I think he is past his prime, like jacfan says.

These are good comments. I agree, but if DC, who is pretty easy on the gear, is having failures, more than likely it is on the team. His big blunder the year was the crash with Wurz.

gkaytaz · Post by **gkaytaz** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 6:22 am

RE30B#16 wrote:
gkaytaz wrote:
jacfan wrote:I think DCs time as a major competitor are over but like gkay I do believe he can certainly mop up a few points here and there.
Yep. I consider him to be one of the better drivers out there... The hardware might have been his problem lately but I think he is past his prime, like jacfan says.
These are good comments. I agree, but if DC, who is pretty easy on the gear, is having failures, more than likely it is on the team. His big blunder the year was the crash with Wurz.

Julian Mayo · Post by **Julian Mayo** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 8:58 am

Geoff Willis has joined RB. He renews has association with Newey, after spending a while on the sidelines.

Ed · Post by Ed » Wed Jul 18, 2007 10:50 pm

Thanks Julian, here is the official Red Bull statement:

GEOFFREY WILLIS JOINS RED BULL

Geoffrey Willis has joined Red Bull Technology and will take on the role of Technical Director, reporting to Chief Technical Officer, Adrian Newey. The new appointment is effective from 23 July 2007.

Forty-seven year old Willis has worked alongside Newey in the past when both men were at Williams and the two men share an interest in yacht design. The Southampton born, Cambridge University graduate worked for the British America's Cup team in 1987, where he developed hull and keel designs using computational fluid dynamics. His first Formula One role came with the Leyton House team from where he joined Newey at Williams, eventually becoming Chief Aerodynamicist. He moved to BAR in 2002 as Technical Director and left the Honda team in 2006, since when he has been tending his garden.

Mark Smith who has been Technical Director since January 2006, has been offered another senior position within the company.

gkaytaz · Post by **gkaytaz** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 11:27 pm

Good news for RBR. Perhaps they can start gathering few more points now...

Julian Mayo · Post by **Julian Mayo** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 12:48 am

gkaytaz wrote:Good news for RBR. Perhaps they can start gathering few more points now...

A new chassis, a new engine, and a new engineering team from Renault,...I know MW is pissed off at not being able to RACE,.......after last years Williams debacle the poor bugga has walked more miles back to the pits than my ex- wife has walked in her life...........I reckon they will be fighting hard with the top two from this season.......BMW is bleeding top talent to other teams, this year will be their best for 3 years.
2008..the top 4 will be Ferrari, RB, Williams, McLaren.
Followed by Super Aguri, ........

gkaytaz · Post by **gkaytaz** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 2:28 am

Julian Mayo wrote:
gkaytaz wrote:Good news for RBR. Perhaps they can start gathering few more points now...
A new chassis, a new engine, and a new engineering team from Renault,...I know MW is pissed off at not being able to RACE,.......after last years Williams debacle the poor bugga has walked more miles back to the pits than my ex- wife has walked in her life...........I reckon they will be fighting hard with the top two from this season.......BMW is bleeding top talent to other teams, this year will be their best for 3 years.
2008..the top 4 will be Ferrari, RB, Williams, McLaren.
Followed by Super Aguri, ........

What about Prodrive?

Julian Mayo · Post by **Julian Mayo** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 2:37 am

gkaytaz wrote:
Julian Mayo wrote:
gkaytaz wrote:Good news for RBR. Perhaps they can start gathering few more points now...
A new chassis, a new engine, and a new engineering team from Renault,...I know MW is pissed off at not being able to RACE,.......after last years Williams debacle the poor bugga has walked more miles back to the pits than my ex- wife has walked in her life...........I reckon they will be fighting hard with the top two from this season.......BMW is bleeding top talent to other teams, this year will be their best for 3 years.
2008..the top 4 will be Ferrari, RB, Williams, McLaren.
Followed by Super Aguri, ........
What about Prodrive?

22nd

gkaytaz · Post by **gkaytaz** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 3:34 am

Julian Mayo wrote:
gkaytaz wrote: What about Prodrive?
22nd

If they hire Ralf to drive...