Schmidt's F1 blog: Red Bull interviews itself

S ind Red Bull the two world championship titles in a row Head up? Is it the arrogance of the successful in Formula 1 that gives you such absurd ideas? Red Bull presents the new car exclusively on the Internet. Although you want to drive it in Jerez from February 7th to 9th. Many are already puzzling: Will Red Bull move into its box in a bunker there and only let the car drive over it with a tarpaulin?

No critical questions please!

The public is being served the Red Bull world just as Red Bull would like it to be. The car only from the point of view that is acceptable to the team. With a minimum of data and facts. The voices of the drivers, team boss and engineers are provided. No opportunity to ask critical questions. Red Bull interviews itself. Brave new media world.

Ferrari and McLaren never had so much control at the worst of times. It's a joke that Ferrari locked out other photographers in its own presentations. The fans only see what Ferrari would like to show the fans. And that is precious little. Ferrari drivers are no longer allowed to speak without a guardian.

Red Bull communication a declaration of bankruptcy

But Red Bull's new way of communication is a complete declaration of bankruptcy. Do the people in Salzburg and Milton Keynes even know who they are doing this sport for? Why not drive in camera right away?

Red Bull entered Formula 1 in 2005 with the aim of being more open, honest and relaxed than the established teams. For a few years the troops of Austria's beverage czar Dietrich Mateschitz were allowed to take their word for it. Red Bull really brought a breath of fresh air to the scene and put the apparatchiks of the works team under pressure. They too had to give up some of their secret service methods.

Red Bull gambled away sympathies

Today little or nothing remains of the former Red Bull freedom. The secrecy is almost paranoid. Since the success was there, the once so funny group has lost a lot of sympathies. It starts with the fact that you continue to hinder the cost reduction plan or want to shape it according to your own ideas. This goes on through press releases, which cannot be surpassed in terms of irrelevance.

And it now seems to lead to that oneI would also like to do the press work myself. That is a bad service to the fan. You can only call Mr. Mateschitz to turn it off as soon as possible. Victories don't sell if the public image puts you on the sidelines.

With pictures of the test drives in 2011, we show in our photo show how paranoid Formula 1 has become.