Sebastian Vettel may have endured a difficult start to the 2014 Formula 1 season, but the German driver is still feeling positive heading to next weekend’s British Grand Prix.
Silverstone has proven to be a happy hunting ground for Red Bull over the past five years, with its drivers winning the race three times. The event is also an important one for the team given that the track is not far from its factory in Milton Keynes.
“I always like going to Silverstone, the track is incredible to drive and the British crowd that turns out to watch the weekend is always massive,” Vettel said in the team’s grand prix preview. “Whether it’s wet or dry everyone always looks like they are having a really good time.”
The race will be the second of three ‘home’ rounds for the team. Last weekend’s race in Austria was the team’s official home race, given that owner Dietrich Mateschitz is Austrian, and the race after Silverstone – the German Grand Prix – is Vettel’s.
“It’s a busy time right now, we had Red Bull’s home race in Austria, the Team’s local event here and then we go to my home race in Germany!” he said. “This race has an extra element as it’s so close to the factory and a lot of the staff who work so hard on the car will be watching from the grandstands with their families – I hope we can get a good result for them.
“As the factory is only about half an hour or so from the track a lot of the race team live nearby and can sleep in their own beds for the weekend which surely is a nice thing for them.
“I have good memories of Silverstone, the best must be winning there in 2009 and Mark [Webber] won there in 2010 and 2012 so we have a good record at the track.”
Vettel’s poor title defence only continued in Austria as he retired when a lap down on the field. For the rest of 2014, a return to the top step of the podium must be the aim for the German driver, but it may take a huge slice of luck for him to follow in teammate Daniel Ricciardo’s footsteps.