Red Bull icon remembered by Stake F1 boss on ‘emotional’ day

Stake F1 team principal Jonathan Wheatley remembered Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz on what was an "emotional" Austrian Grand Prix for the 58-year-old. 

It marked Wheatley's first race at the Red Bull Ring not as an employee of the Austrian outfit since working for Renault in 2003, with him having enjoyed considerable home success at Red Bull. 

As for Mateschitz, he sadly passed away on 22 October 2022, the same weekend as that season's United States Grand Prix. 

Floods of memories returned for Wheatley over the weekend, with being at Red Bull's home circuit having reminded him of Mateschitz, spending time with him and the work he conducted at the track.

The Austrian GP also marked Stake's best weekend of the season so far and Wheatley's strongest as a team boss. 

Gabriel Bortoleto scored his first points as an F1 driver in eighth, whilst Nico Hulkenberg finished directly behind the Brazilian rookie in ninth.

"Let's talk a little bit about the Red Bull Ring first of all," Wheatley told select media, including RacingNews365. "It's a bit emotional for me here, because I'm always reminded of Dietrich Mateschitz and the incredible work that he did in this area and what he did with this circuit. 

"And, we've had wins here, which I've got to share with him, and he's such an extraordinary man and to be here, the circuits always been kind to us, in terms of all the teams I've worked with, and this is a circuit that Gabby knows. 

"It's easy to forget, it's his first year, he hasn't done this 10,000 hours of TPC testing in a Formula 1 car. He's learning on the job. He's learning at each track. 

"And this is a track that, okay, we thought would suit the car, but it also suits Gabby. But then every circuit is going to suit him and Nico if the car keeps performing the way it is."