Horner: No doubt that Vettel would extend contract - MotorSportsTalk

Christian Horner has said that he never had any doubt that Sebastian Vettel would extend his contract with Red Bull Racing, calling the deal a “formality”.

Vettel joined the team in 2009 and has won three drivers’ world championships with Red Bull, and it was confirmed earlier this week that the German driver has extended his contract with the team until the end of 2015. To Horner though, it was merely a formality.

Talking to Press Association, Horner said: “It was more of a formality than anything else. We have a long-term agreement with Sebastian, and it was just perfect timing for both sides to extend for another year.”

Rumors had been circulating which suggested that the youngest ever world champion may desire a change of team in order to prove that he can win in more than one car, with Ferrari and Mercedes mooted as potential destinations. However, Horner sees no reason for Vettel to walk away at the end of his deal.

“He’s been part of the Red Bull family, since starting out as a junior, for more than 12 years now, so he’s grown up with Red Bull. He’s achieved all 29 victories in cars designed by Adrian [Newey], and he is still growing and developing as a driver.

“He enjoys the environment he is working in, we enjoy having him and working with him. It’s a relationship that works.”

In a continuing effort to help fans keep track of the on track action, SuperMotocross is in the process of developing and implementing leader lights for the unified series.

Currently Supercross (SMX) utilizes stanchions in the infield that are triggered manually by a race official. At least two stanchions are used in each race as a way to draw the eye to the leader, which is especially useful in the tight confines of the stadium series when lapping often begins before the halfway mark in the 22-bike field. This system has been in place for the past two decades.

Later this year, a fully automated system will move to the bike itself to replace the old system. At that point, fans will be able to identify the leader regardless of where he is on track.

The leader lights were tested in the second Anaheim round this year. An example can be seen at the 1:45 mark in the video above on the No. 69 bike.

“What we don’t want to do is move too fast, where it’s confusing to people,” said Mike Muye, senior director of operations for Supercross and SMX in a press release. “We’ve really just focused on the leader at this point with the thought that maybe down the road we’ll introduce others.”

Scheduled to debut with the first SuperMotocross World Championship race at zMax Dragway, located just outside the Charlotte Motor Speedway, a 3D carbon fiber-printed LED light will be affixed to each motorcycle. Ten timing loops positioned around the track will trigger the lights of the leader, which will turn green.

SMX’s partner LiveTime Scoring helped develop and implement the system that has been tested in some form or fashion since 2019.

When the leader lights are successfully deployed, SuperMotocross will explore expanding the system to identify the second- and third-place riders. Depending on need and fan acceptance, more positions could be added.

SuperMotocross is exploring future enhancements, including allowing for live fan interaction with the lights and ways to use the lighting system during the race’s opening ceremony.

Read more about SuperMotocross