Publications
Partners
VIENNA, Austria - Mercedes, so far the dominant team of 2014, and defending four-times champion team Red Bull are perfect F1 enemies.
For instance Mercedes, after winning on Red Bull's home soil at the 2014 Austrian GP (June 22), Mercedes released an advertising hoarding with the slogan: "Silver Arrow gives you wings".
The Red Bull Ring in Austria is owned by Red Bull's Dietrich Mateschit but silver-clad people (Mercedes personnel?) climbed the enormous iron bull statue in the centre of the circuit and necklaced it with a huge three-pointed star.
All in good fun.
'NO, WE DO NOT SPEAK'
Less jovial have been scraps over cancelled hotel bookings, or when Mercedes lawyers urged the International Automobile Federation to ban Red Bull for three races after fuel-flow indiscretions early in the 2014 season.
It's obvious that the bad vibes have affected the relationship between Red Bull and Mercedes respective Austrian chiefs Helmut Marko and Toto Wolff. Indeed, Mercedes' Wolff confirmed to the Austrian weekly News that the pair were not speaking: "No, we do not (speak). He's just not a point of contact for me in his role and therefore there is no reason for us to talk to each other. 'Hate' would be too emotive.
"We are competitors on the track, that's our job and it's important that we obtain the greatest possible success. I respect the Red Bull team. Nevertheless, life is too short to drink bad wine."
Stay with Wheels24 for the 2014 F1 season – fresh reports every day.
For instance Mercedes, after winning on Red Bull's home soil at the 2014 Austrian GP (June 22), Mercedes released an advertising hoarding with the slogan: "Silver Arrow gives you wings".
The Red Bull Ring in Austria is owned by Red Bull's Dietrich Mateschit but silver-clad people (Mercedes personnel?) climbed the enormous iron bull statue in the centre of the circuit and necklaced it with a huge three-pointed star.
All in good fun.
'NO, WE DO NOT SPEAK'
Less jovial have been scraps over cancelled hotel bookings, or when Mercedes lawyers urged the International Automobile Federation to ban Red Bull for three races after fuel-flow indiscretions early in the 2014 season.
It's obvious that the bad vibes have affected the relationship between Red Bull and Mercedes respective Austrian chiefs Helmut Marko and Toto Wolff. Indeed, Mercedes' Wolff confirmed to the Austrian weekly News that the pair were not speaking: "No, we do not (speak). He's just not a point of contact for me in his role and therefore there is no reason for us to talk to each other. 'Hate' would be too emotive.
"We are competitors on the track, that's our job and it's important that we obtain the greatest possible success. I respect the Red Bull team. Nevertheless, life is too short to drink bad wine."
Stay with Wheels24 for the 2014 F1 season – fresh reports every day.