The end of domination: Is Red Bull becoming desperate?

[Pierce89]

... or seeing some sort of Red Bull event. Very diversified - planes, cars, bikes, skiing, extreme sports too. Then the fun ones like flugtag. Ultimately this sort of marketing approach ensures the success of Red Bull the drink (and its derivatives)

Mr Mateschitz is a marketing man, and understands its power.

With respect to lack of diversification: you could say the same about Coca-Cola, they produce a carbonated drink and spend fortunes on marketing so people chose their cola over the other brands (Red Bull have diversified to cola too). Coke have diversified to other carbonated drinks but carbonated drinks are their staple.

Oh and a note of caution on diversification / enhancing a successful formula: Coke changed their formula in response to the success of Pepsi, and taste tests. The result was badly received and nearly caused the downfall of Coke. BUT to their credit they converted a loosing position into a massive success by brining back the old formula as Coke Classic.

Red Bull is a quite diversified company. They just don't advertise things that aren't "cool"

[stefan_]

Too early to say, they still have a lot of time to bounce back.

I don't understand the last option of the poll though. With what did they cheat?

[Pierce89]

Too early to say, they still have a lot of time to bounce back.

I don't understand the last option of the poll though. With what did they cheat?

They've not been caught cheating. Only accused in all the F1 forums and on some F1 blogs.

[Maelstrom]

Too early to say, they still have a lot of time to bounce back.

I don't understand the last option of the poll though. With what did they cheat?

They've not been caught cheating. Only accused in all the F1 forums and on some F1 blogs.

Innocent until proven guilty. Seems more like sour grapes to me.

[Pierce89]

It is sour grapes.

[ArchAngel]

Innocent until proven guilty. Seems more like sour grapes to me.

It is sour grapes.

Give it some more time, and it may yet ferment into passable wine.

But it's definitely much too early to write off any of the top 4 teams, especially not a multi-billion dollar company that doesn't consider itself constrained by the RRA. One thing's for sure -- despite the team's early modest statements playing down another possibly dominant season and expecting tighter competition, their true yet unspoken & lofty expectations have been rocked to the core by the results of the first two GPs.

Given their current form & standing in relation to their closest competitors, they are definitely feeling uncomfortable at being on the back foot. The RB6 & RB7 were clear winners straight out of the box and quite easy to dial into any circuit & track condition. After nearly two-and-a-half years of being the alpha dog, it's easy for any team to grow a bit too comfortable (almost complacent) in that position (see post-Schumacher Ferrari). They're now out of that comfort zone and had been forced to work much harder these past 2 race weekends, searching & groping for their mojos (or wings), yet still ending up with little to show for it.

Under such pressure, we'll probably see a few more mistakes from this team like in 2010. But yeah, I still fully expect the drinks empire to strike back... But hopefully not to the detriment of a tight, 4 or 5 team battle for the WDC & WCC all the way to the season finale.

[bhall]

I wouldn't call it cheating, but collecting four cars' worth of data in 2009 to kick off a new formula amidst severe testing restrictions didn't exactly hurt Red Bull Technologies, I mean, Racing. Perhaps they've simply reached the end of that advantage.

(Can you imagine the uproar had it somehow been Ferrari who ran four cars? There are several members of this forum who'd likely have an aneurysm or three if that happened.)

[Goran2812]

So, Red Bull are saying that they will not sign the RRA... hm hm hm... what say you about that??

[raymondu999]

Eh? The RRA was signed a long time ago.

[Goran2812]

http://www.f1racing.com.hr/formula-1/re ... a-sporazum

says here: (used google translate to make it on english...)

Red Bull Racing and still refuses to sign the agreement RRA

According to recent information, the RDA agreement so far signed 10 Formula 1 teams, and only awaits the signature of another Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso Scuderije.

"What I want to clearly emphasize the fact that the Red Bull fully supports the control of costs in Formula 1, however, the question is whether the RBA will be the right instrument to help. From the letters I have understood that the FIA ​​should control the implementation of RDA Agreement, which is In our opinion, completely wrong, "explains Horner.

"I fully believe in the necessity of controlling costs in Formula 1, however, there are better ways to do this," warned Horner, who was particularly concerned for the subsidiaries that teams can be established and thus slip through loopholes in the rules. "It is always zafrknuto with companies, subsidiaries, particularly in the industry."

Is this true then or not?

[raymondu999]

The RRA was signed a few years back by all FOTA members. It's a contract that is legally binding in the world (rather than just within FOTA) and is prosecutable in a court of law. I've read the quote before - the one that Horner thinks the costs should be monitored by someone other than the FIA - but I've never heard about them not signing an agreement

[Pup]

... or seeing some sort of Red Bull event. Very diversified - planes, cars, bikes, skiing, extreme sports too. Then the fun ones like flugtag.

Diversification of product lines, not advertising.

With respect to lack of diversification: you could say the same about Coca-Cola...

Not really.

[peteskar]

To early in the season I would not say desperate, maybe concerned would be a better word. Also I think its hard to write off the Ferrari as a non-competive car, placing first sounds competive to me. After all there were 20 some odd cars also trying to win.

[Lycoming]

They've definitely signed the RRA, they simply disagree, particularly with FOTA, on how to carry out further cost cutting measures and/or how to continue current ones.

[bhall]

With respect to lack of diversification: you could say the same about Coca-Cola...

Not really.

Ha!