Officially we’re in the Chinese year of the ox, but Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber made it an afternoon for Red Bull at the grand prix in Shanghai.
Vettel scored the team’s maiden victory while to make the success even sweeter joining him on the podium in second place was Mark Webber who also drove a faultless race in the wet to gain his second podium for the team.
Vettel had qualified in pole position, but his advantage was cut as the adverse weather meant the race started behind the Safety Car.
But on lap 8 when that went in, Vettel stormed to the front and stayed there apart from a couple of laps after pitting.
Mark started in third, but an early stop for Fernando Alonso meant he moved up a place and from then on in was battling with the Brawn GP of Jenson Button. But he fought hard and his podium demonstrated that the successes were a definite team effort, from design and manufacture of a great car through to faultless strategy, great engineering and tireless work from the team’s mechanics. And a couple of half decent drives
Over the radio in the warm-down lap Seb could not contain his pleasure - and gratitude to the team: "It was a dream to drive today and so much fun, thank you, thank you."
This was the fourth time the team has seen drivers on the podium, but it was the first victory for Red Bull Racing and the first time two of our drivers have savoured the champagne at the same race.
China is Vettel’s second victory in a Red Bull car, the first coming for Toro Rosso at the Italian Grand Prix last year.
Toro Rosso themselves scored another Championship point with Sebastien Buemi, the only rookie on the grid coming in eighth – making it two sets of points in three races for the driver who is – like Vettel – a product of the Red Bull Junior Team young driver programme.
Red Bull Racing are now second in the Constructors Championship behind Brawn with Sebastian third in the drivers table.
There’s now a quick pack-up and dash to the airport to race again next Sunday in Bahrain.
There may be enough time for one celebratory drink on the way however…
For more details on the races and the reactions from the drivers and team, please visit www.redbullracing.com and www.tororosso.com
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