Sajtóközlemény

Clash of the Titans - Redbull vs Mclaren

05.05.2017 -

Since Season 16 there have been TWO teams that have dominated Formula 1 in MRC. Those two teams are Redbull and Mclaren. Since S16 no other team has won the Constructors Title, and only one other team Jordan have been able to steal a Drivers Title from these teams.

I thought I would get a hold of the team managers and drivers for both teams and see if they consider themselves direct rivals and perhaps get an insight to how both teams approached and achieved their successes.

At the beginning of this interview that I would uncover 2 teams that devoted themselves to beating each other, instead what I found was 2 team with an immense amount of respect for each other that have also just happened to converge at the top of MRC F1.

It's a long read, and although I'm biased I think it's a great read worth the time. Thank-you to all managers that participated.


Redbull Team Manager (JordanF1)
Q) As a viewer, it appears the last 5 seasons have almost been a head to head between the two great teams excluding interruptions by Jordan? When do you guys consider the Rivalry began?
A) In fact, we do not consider any rivalry, we just try to do our best every season. Since we began in Formula One we had to deal with many good other teams but we never act just to respond to one or another, we are just here to do our best season after season.
We never look at short terms objectives, some teams did and lost a lot.

Q) As a Team Manager when preparing for a new season how much effort goes into making sure you can beat Mclaren? Do you guys watch the other teams around you as closely as you would Mclaren?
A) Of course, we are looking what other teams are doing and sometimes we think the strategy of some teams are quite strange and curious.
The last few seasons, we probably looked a little bit more what McLaren was doing, especially with the making of the new engine. They had quite a similar strategy to ours and I think we were the only two teams to do so, that is probably why we have at this moment the two best engines.
McLaren is a great team, well managed and we are pleased to fight against them each season.

Q) You've never finished lower than 4th in team championship, in Season 19 you finished below Jordan in 3rd place. How much do you attribute this sudden drop in form to trying to chase down Mclaren in the tightly fought Season 18?
A) Each season is different and you'll never know what will exactly happen. The chance is an important part of the game and sometimes you have chance, sometimes you don't. Look at Rapido's last season; I think he just was unlucky because his car and ours were equal.
In season 19 we were just unlucky because we had a good car and Alexandre was unlucky all the season. Last season Romain had a great Season and we managed to win with a big gap of almost 100 points.
Since some seasons, good money managing has become important. Some teams have spent in a non-reasonable way targeting short terms goals. Growing slowly and steadily is the subject; look at what Williams did ...


F1 Redbull Driver SatF1 aka Romain Louis Grosjean Jr
Q) In season 16, Rapido and Grosjean began what has become a 6 season, looking to be 7 season long battle between each other thus creating the rivalry between Redbull and Mclaren. Grosjean took the title that season by a mere 10 points. How much of that season do you remember? Tell us about it?
A) This season was so terrific for me. I was so afraid at the beginning because our leader had begun to lose skills and I was wondering if I could help him enough to stay at the top.
I managed, this season to grab 9 victories, I was so happy race after race. Our leader, Philippe de Saint-Germain Jr decided to help me for my first title and that was what he did. I'd like to thank him for that again. Th title was finally easy to get even if the final score does not show it perfectly. This season will stay as my best season because we broke all records that season!!

Q) In season 18, after two titles in a row for yourself and Redbull, Rapido and yourself were beaten to the title by Novikov in the Jordan even though Mclaren and Redbull teams finished 1st and 2nd respectively. Did you focus on beating Rapido too much this season and that allowed Novikov to sneak up on you both?
A) I was not focused on anybody in fact. I just wanted to grab a new title and do the best possible for the team. That season, the chance was not our side in qualifications and Jordan manage to do better than us. Novikov did the best job and he totally deserved the crown.

Q) Rapido has been a long-term rival in his Mclaren now for many seasons, you have managed to win 3 titles to his 2, although in season 19 and 20 he took back to back titles, how did you manage to turn that around in such dominating fashion in season 21 taking the title by 93 points?
A) Between Rapido and me it is a long story. We first race against each other in F2 and despite I was very young, I managed to win the championship. He was already used to put too much risk :)
Red Bull always gave me a very good car so I had no doubt I could win a third title at a moment or another. This moment came in season 21 and I must admit it was a very easy season for me and Red Bull. But things change all the time and this season will be clearly more difficult.

Q) Of Redbulls eight drivers’ titles, you hold 3 of them, your previous teammate Saint-Germain Jr has 5 of them. Do you think you can equal or beat his record, and how much did you learn from him during your time as team mates?
A) Philippe de Saint-Germain Jr will stay for me as the best driver ever. I won't be able to equal him and I guess nobody will be able either.
PSG taught me everything in formula 1. During two seasons, he taught me race by race all possible strategies that could work in Formula one.

F1 Redbull Driver promocourse aka Alexandre De Montferrand
Q) For six seasons now you have partnered Grosjean at Redbull, in that time together you have both delivered the Team Championship two times. Although pivotal in helping to deliver those Championships you have had to watch Grosjean and Rapido share the majority of titles. You have arguably one of the hardest drives in F1, I mean no offense when I ask but has that been difficult for you, or are you playing a team role?
A) I know Grosjean and the Manager of Jordan F1, Willy, from a long time (4 years ago) in another game as MRC. I never met them but between us we developed a friendship. So, when F1 has been introduced in MRC we have created the team Red Bull Vaillante F1.
We decided that Romain will be the first driver and Alexandre the second. Jordan and Sat have more time to spend in the game as me. So, the most important is to win both titles at the end of season. We had plenty of success in our bet and Alexandre is satisfied.
This season, Alexandre is luckier than Romain and we are at the beginning of the season. If Alexandre get a chance to win the championship, he will do his best and his partners will be satisfied. For the time being, it’s impossible to know which driver will be champion but we can already say that it will be between McLaren or RBV F1 drivers.
The most important for us is that RBV F1 is the team reference in Formula One from the beginning, statistics speak for us and we are our proud of that.

Q) In season 20 you finished 4th in the Drivers Championship, and then in season 21, you had your best Drivers Championship finish of 3rd place, and Redbull absolutely dominated the Team Championship that Season taking the title by a monstrous 126 points. Fast forward to the early stages of Season 22 and you again sit 3rd, ahead of your team mate Grosjean this time. What do you attribute to your rich form of late? And can you take the title?
A) First, our team manager, Willy Jordan, is monstrous in each design of RBV car. It means, for pilots, the car is easy to drive in all circumstances.
As I told you before, to be the second driver is not a problem for me. So, my obligations are to make a maximum of points when Romain has difficulties and for teams’ average.
This season, I continue my normal way while Romain got problems at each qualifications or races. He has not had much lucky. In the same time, the opposition of McLaren is at a high level and we drive all often over the limit. I finish each race and that’s why I am at the second place of the championship. If I can win the title, I will do it.

Q) You joined Redbull in Season 17 replacing MRCs most successful F1 driver to date, was there a lot of pressure or were you given time to find your feet?
A) That's true, I replace de St Germain but without any pressure. I am a partner in RBV F1 and all decisions are agreed on by all others. It was difficult at the beginning but now, I can say, I join the group of the best F1 drivers. I am proud of that.


F1 Mclaren Team Owner and Driver Invictus aka Rocco Rapido
Q) As a viewer, it appears the last 5 seasons have almost been a head to head between the two great teams excluding interruptions by Jordan? When do you guys consider the Rivalry began?
A) We don’t really care about rivalry in that sense, we rather focus on our own car and our own performance. Our claim is to be do the best job and be on top, not just at end of the season, but in every race. If there’s anyone ahead of us at the finish line, it doesn’t matter if it is Red Bull or any other team. What then counts is that we couldn’t fulfil ambitions and need to work even harder on the next race.

Q) As a Team Manager when preparing for a new season how much effort goes into making sure you can beat Redbull? Do you guys watch the other teams around you as closely as you would Redbull?
A) There’s no effort caused by ensuring to beat Red Bull or any other team. There’s a maximum you can get out of the car and we’re trying to achieve this maximum. You might rather say we’re trying to beat (game) physics than anything else. Of course, we’re also watching every team that has the potential to reach the podium and win races on a regular basis. This isn’t applying to Red Bull only, also Jordan and most recently Williams have proven to be considerable threats to our victory.
However, unless it might come to a real showdown at end of the season, it doesn’t afflict our plans or strategies at all. The strongest opponent we’re facing since past season still is fortuna herself, and even if she hasn’t always meant it too good with us during these past months, we strongly believe that she’ll open her heart for us once again.

Q) Mclaren has now won 3 Constructors Titles(S18,S19 and S20), Rapido has taken 2 titles in that time(S19 and S20). Although early days now, you guys are on track to take a 4th Constructors title in S21 and more than likely the Drivers Title as well. This will move you one title ahead of Lamborghini and move a step closer to Redbulls 6 titles meaning you will have won 4 of the last 5 Constructors Championships. With one ageing Champion and a very promising youngster can you guys continue to pull in these titles?
A) We don’t care about the past, but about what still lies ahead of us. We have great trust in all our current and future drivers and are positive that they’ll make their contributions to further titles.

Q) In season 16, Rapido and Grosjean began what has become a 6 season, looking to be 7 season long battle between each other thus creating the rivalry between Redbull and Mclaren. Grosjean took the title that season by a mere 10 points. How much of that season do you remember? Tell us about it?
A) It was a very close championship in the “good old times”, in those days overtaking was nearly impossible. The results of the qualifying were known in advance as the car and Red Bull mostly determined them was in the first row at almost every race. Therefore, it already was a small miracle that Rapido was only 2 or 3 points behind Grosjean before the last race.
The qualifying was almost perfect, Rapido was beaten by his teammate Di Rado, but more important, he also was in front of Grosjean. Then our team had a surprising idea. There was a new race setting "Allow Teammate to Overtake", so we sent Di Rado with a 2-stop strategy on the track. Rapido had planned 3 stops. Because of this setting, Rapido should easily be able to pass Di Rado at the first few laps, and then Di Rado should block the whole field. Unfortunately, this idea was too brilliant for the game as MRC was obviously not ready for such considerations. Rapido was held up and lost a lot of time, making Grosjean win the race and become world champion. It was frustrating to lose the championship this way, however I still believe that S16 was Rapido’s best season.

Q) You have been driving for Mclaren for many years now, after being runner up a few times and a 3rd place, you managed to take the Drivers Titles in Season 19 and 20, beating Grosjean to the titles by 26 points and 41 points respectively. That puts you guys at 2-3 in Grosjeans favour, how have you enjoyed the rivalry between yourself and Redbull?
A) I don’t draw any specific comparisons to other drivers. Whoever wants to win must beat everyone else, that much it is.

Q) In season 21, Grosjean fought back in commanding fashion to take the title by 93 points, you looked like you endured a difficult season. Did Mclaren put too much into trying to beat Redbull in Season 20 or was this difficult season a plan to come out strong for Season 21?
A) Of course not. McLaren always has the same goal: to win both championships. It doesn’t matter if the rival is Red Bull, Jordan or any other team. Our car at S21 was at the same level as S22, but we suffered a streak of bad luck. However, this season luck seems to be a little bit more on our side so far. It’s almost like compensatory justice.

Q) As Redbull and Grosjean appear to struggle by their standards from last season. You're new teammate Garcia appears to be giving you a solid run for your money here in Season 21, and you both look to be well in control of the Constructors Championship for Mclaren. Is this indicative of seasons to come or do you expect Redbull to fight back hard in Season 23? ( P.S Can you beat Garcia? ;) )
A) Of course, they will fight back and because of the numerous rule-changes, there are now many teams that can fight for victories. Nevertheless, I expect that McLaren and Red Bull will be fighting for both titles next season. Our new driver duo Morales Garcia and Novikov can compete against every opponent.
P.S. yes! But it doesn’t matter to be #1 or #2 if it is a McLaren driver who wins the championship. May the best man win, or the luckier one...


F1 Mclaren Driver kikemori aka Enrique Morales Garcia
Q) You just joined Mclaren last season, and endured a difficult start by Mclarens standards as Redbull ran away with both titles. Mclaren and yourself have really hit top gear this season and you are really giving Rapido a run for his money on track. Can you beat him, will you be allowed to beat him?
A) The main goal of the team is the constructor’s championship, therefore my goal at every race is to get the best possible result and if I must outrun my team mate to achieve so, the team won't have a problem with it since team orders doesn't exist, which is good. However, if at the end of the season we have already won the constructors championship and one of us is in the position to win the drivers’ championship I assure you that we will do what we need to make that happen.

Q) Season 22 before the race at Canada, your level with Rapido on 101points each, Were you under much pressure for the season and did you expect such a solid start to the season?
A) I don't have much pressure coming from the team since they have shown me that they have complete trust on me and I'm at 100% with them. I put myself the pressure on me, because I'm very demanding with myself and very ambitious. I would like to win every single race, get all the pole positions and fastest laps. I don't like to lose to even playing cards. I am looking forward to get good results this season and maybe to win a few more races.


Redbull VS Mclaren History in Numbers (Updated with Season 22)
Season 16
Redbull 1st
Mclaren 2nd
Grosjean by 10 points

Season 17
Redbull 1st
Mclaren 2nd
Grosjean by 76 points

Season 18
Mclaren 1st
Redbull 2nd
Jordan 3rd
Novikov (Jordan) by 34 points

Season 19
Mclaren 1st
Jordan 2nd
Redbull 3rd
Rapido by 26 points

Season 20
Mclaren 1st
Redbull 2nd
Rapido by 41 points

Season 21
Redbull 1st
Jordan 2nd
Mclaren 3rd
Grosjean by 93 points

Season 22
Mclaren 1st
Redbull 2nd
Williams 3rd
Rapido by 4 points

Points since Season 16
Grosjean - 1,836
Rapido - 1,671
Novikov - 1,384

Driver Titles since S16
Grosjean - 3
Rapido - 3
Novikov - 1

Constructors Titles since S16
Mclaren - 4
Redbull - 3