Red Bull "loan" Vettel to BMW for 2 years

[VilleneuveTracy]

Sebastian Vettel is being loaned to BMW by Red Bull, according to the owner of the energy drink outfit, billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz.

The 62-year-old Austrian revealed that teenager Vettel, who debuted impressively for BMW-Sauber as a Friday driver in Turkey, nonetheless remains contracted to Red Bull.

Mateschitz told Swiss magazine Motorsport Aktuell that 19-year-old Vettel, who reverted to his Red Bull-liveried F3 cockpit last weekend to complement his Red Bull helmet, has been 'loaned' to BMW for two years.


"After that we can get him back," he confirmed.

Smart move by Red Bull. They can have another team develop a driver for them, which frees a spot up at RBR and STR, while retaining the right to him if he looks promising in 2 years.

http://f1.racing-live.com/f1/en/head...06111039.shtml

[BootsOntheSide]

Agreed, Vettel seems to have some potential, just like so may other Red Bull-linked drivers. Liuzzi and Speed will have proved what they can or can't do by then, so they oculd be able to replace one or the other with a proven driver. It might make BMW think twice about racing him though.

[chunterer]

Both sides win - for now!

If he does ace, BMW will have to buy him for 2008!

Or, if BMW engines get back to where they were four years ago, then maybe both outfits will broker an engine deal with Vettel part of the deal?

[FPV GTHO]

Originally Posted by chunterer

Or, if BMW engines get back to where they were four years ago, then maybe both outfits will broker an engine deal with Vettel part of the deal?

Theyre running out of time if they want that to happen

[koper]

I just read that Timo Glock is going to take over BMW test driver seat.
According to the rumour Vettel is not a good option for BMW as from 2009 he will be Red Bull driver only

[Chatters]

RBR could become a serious F1 threat in the not so distant future methinks...

[FPV GTHO]

Originally Posted by Chatters

RBR could become a serious F1 threat in the not so distant future methinks...

Is this before or after already having Newey, either the Renault or Ferrari engines and the richest person in F1 running the show....

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by koper

I just read that Timo Glock is going to take over BMW test driver seat.
According to the rumour Vettel is not a good option for BMW as from 2009 he will be Red Bull driver only

Very interesting, is there a thread about this Glock situation yet?

I don't understand the other bit of your post. BMW must think Vettel is a good option otherwise they wouldn't be running him on Fridays the last couple of events?

Methinks this must be more to do with Red Bull wanting to keep his contract when BMW obviously want it!

[Suze]

Think Chunterer might be right there.....good move though, RBR have so many drivers and Vettel isn't bad so will get him some more experience, whilst RBR still get to keep him under their contract.

[kipper]

It seems that Red Bull are in a strong position with Vettel - if he proves himself that he is likely to be successful, Red Bull can either race him or if they do not have a vacancy (although they could quite well do so given that it is unlikely that Coulthard will still be around then) they can cash in on him and sell him to BMW. For Vettel, if he can prove himself a future in F1 with a good team seems to be a definite possibility.