Why is RedBull Racing so unpopular despite WCC/WDC
#1
Posted 02 February 2011 - 01:45
There were some assumptions why it is so, shortly written most popular of them are:
-They are a new team, not established in the fans minds.
-They haven't a popular driver like Lewis, Fernando or Robert
-They are branded based on a drink
Maybe there is something in this third point? I mean, car producers, had/have a pretty big fan base, because their cars have some fans. Privaters team, gain easily fans, because their are usually the under-dogs, and it's pretty admirable, that some private guy want's to race in the pinacle of motorsports and make a challenge to the big car companies.
And there are many people who would love to drive a Ferrari or McLaren once in a live, there are many people who are fans of Williams or Sauber because that are personalities.
And now look at a drink company? Can you be a fan of a drink company? Can your dream be, to own in the future a big can of this drink? That doesn't make sense.
So IMHO it's not a matter of time, rather a matter of the brand itself, altough I can be all wrong here.
And naturally I didn't take into account the second point, I mean, if Robert would drive for RBR, IMHO I and really much much people would became RBR fans from the scratch
Advertisement
#2
Posted 02 February 2011 - 02:01
#3
Posted 02 February 2011 - 02:04
#4
Posted 02 February 2011 - 02:07
#5
Posted 02 February 2011 - 02:12
They're also like any other team due to the fact that they buy their way to success, no different to Ferrari or McLaren but they don't share their heritage and in it's place, a team name reflecting the fact that the whole thing is a cynical marketing exercise for an energy drink.
As soon as things go wrong, Dietrich Mateschitz will pull the plug like the manufacturers and as a result, can never command a loyal fanbase. I don't recall a loyal Toyota or Honda fanbase.
Edited by Disgrace, 02 February 2011 - 02:17.
#6
Posted 02 February 2011 - 02:12
#7
Posted 02 February 2011 - 02:15
I think their unpopularity stems from their behind-the-scenes antics last year. I don't ever recall any massive anti-Red Bull sentiment before 2010.
Pretty much this. I think that the issues with the front wing swap etc last year created a kind of 'webber vs red bull' perspective. A lot of people chose to side with the underdog in webber which brought the team into a position to be vilified.
#8
Posted 02 February 2011 - 02:21
It just so happens that both Mclaren AND Ferrari fans are getting beaten up by somebody new now and most of em dont like it.
Were there a ton of Renault fans(outside of the Spanish armada) when they were winning?
#9
Posted 02 February 2011 - 02:23
They simply have no myth behind them, or dont have anything to do with motorsports in general.
mclaren,williams,ferrari and mercedes all have their succesfull past.
And even teams like honda, toyota, bmw have their followers simply because people love the cars,
they relate to Formula1, atleast they are car manufacturer, not a energy drink making company.
The same would have happend to brawn GP if merc would not have bought them...
TL/DR
They are a new team AND/OR they are not a car producing company.
if they keep beeing succesfull for atleast a decade and continue afterwards, they will earn mclaren/williams status.
Edited by beute, 02 February 2011 - 02:25.
#10
Posted 02 February 2011 - 02:27
Then there is the driver factor. Neither Vettel or Webber are particularly exciting characters, though the same can be said of most of the grid, and if a group of 24 people are boring, you look like a bit of a knob singling out just two of them to moan about. For me, I don't particularly care for Vettel or Webber - I think Webber is really just lucky he's in a team capable of winning races at all, and altough I do like Vettel a bit I more like the part he plays in F1. I'm not really interested in Vettel himself, but I like that he seems to be so often cast as the villian around these parts, for daring to go toe to toe with good ol' British lads like Hamilton and Button. It's a part Alonso plays very well too, but Vettel still has a few more years to go before he reaches anything like an Alonso level of support.
I do like Red Bull as a team, though. I think you're a bit of a douche if you fault them for not having history - Ferrari, McLaren and Williams were all new teams at one point. I especially like how they have, in a very short period of time, won the two most prestigious titles in motor racing as an energy drink company. I think, in short, that Formula One is one of the most overly-nostalgic, history-obsessed sports on the face of the planet and they are very good for the sport. I wish them the best of luck in the future, because in a lot of ways F1 and its fans seem positively phobic of the future. We can't pretend Red Bull have been incredibly revolutionary in redefining what a racing team does or what it should be, but we can be happy that they continue to take steps down that road.
Edited by andrew., 02 February 2011 - 02:30.
#11
Posted 02 February 2011 - 02:33
They're not British.
Plus, their top driver is german.
#12
Posted 02 February 2011 - 02:41
(THEN when McLaren wins it's that much sweeter lol )
#13
Posted 02 February 2011 - 02:44
I think you're a bit of a douche if you fault them for not having history - Ferrari, McLaren and Williams were all new teams at one point. I especially like how they have, in a very short period of time, won the two most prestigious titles in motor racing as an energy drink company.
I disagree. Ferrari, McLaren and Williams were all new teams. Started from scratch, their very existence being to race. Red Bull is not new: they've taken over from Jaguar, and themselves from Stewart. The team's existence is to race, as it was founded by Jackie Stewart like the aforementioned teams, but that does not include the Red Bull bankrolling and sponsorship. At birth, they were separate entities.
I think, in short, that Formula One is one of the most overly-nostalgic, history-obsessed sports on the face of the planet...
I would agree, but without it, you wouldn't get such passionate fanbases who care for the sport and get outraged by the outside meddling of forces such as the FIA.
We can't pretend Red Bull have been incredibly revolutionary in redefining what a racing team does or what it should be, but we can be happy that they continue to take steps down that road.
Indeed not; the former is another reason for the lack of a fanbase and the latter is a reason for the lack of disrespect and ill-feeling towards the team. I am personally, almost, totally ambiguous towards them because it is inevitable that the Red Bull support is finite. McLaren, Ferrari and Williams will not stop financially supporting their teams, for they are the team. Red Bull is a drinks company who support a team.
Anyway, as I said, I'm not really bothered so I'll stop there, I just didn't like the "douche" bit.
Edited by Disgrace, 02 February 2011 - 02:48.
#14
Posted 02 February 2011 - 02:46
#15
Posted 02 February 2011 - 02:52
2. Red Bull Racing is purely, first and foremost, a marketing project aimed at ever increasing the brand awareness and sales for the companys product
3. Their driver line-up is unpopular and boring. Slip a Hamilton or Raikkonen in one of those seats, suddenly more fans will appear.
All that said, they are a top notch team and Mateschitz has done a brilliant job, for both the F1 team and his hugely popular beverage (which I actually like, going against the general opinion of Red Bull on this board).
F1 suits the Red Bull image perfectly and DM will milk it right till the last drop. Although IMO, I would be trying to get a top driver in who suits the Red Bull image far closer than either of Vettel or Webber. One who really relates and has a big fanbase amongst the target market. Just IMO...its not a necessity though.
Edited by FigJam, 02 February 2011 - 02:54.
#16
Posted 02 February 2011 - 02:52
...Indeed not; the former is another reason for the lack of a fanbase and the latter is a reason for the lack of disrespect and ill-feeling towards the team. I am personally, almost, totally ambiguous towards them because it is inevitable that the Red Bull support is finite.
I wouldn't say it was inevitable - if Dieter is as passionite about F1 as he is supposed to be, then there is no reason why the team can't continue on even if he decides to stop branding it with the Red Bull logo.
Replacing the Red Bull logo with another companie's would be no different to what Williams, Mclaren and even Ferrari have done for years - if he could find enough sponsoship to continue funding the team then why wouldn't he?
#17
Posted 02 February 2011 - 02:53
They arent unpopular at all outside a small group here. Mainly seems to be Webber fans peed off that he didnt beat Vettel. A few people who never got over the whole 'red bull are a publicity stunt team who will never amount to anything' also I guess, but mainly just Webber fans and the occasional anti-german.
What a load of sh!t...
#18
Posted 02 February 2011 - 02:54
#19
Posted 02 February 2011 - 02:56
I wouldn't say it was inevitable - if Dieter is as passionite about F1 as he is supposed to be, then there is no reason why the team can't continue on even if he decides to stop branding it with the Red Bull logo.
Replacing the Red Bull logo with another companie's would be no different to what Williams, Mclaren and even Ferrari have done for years - if he could find enough sponsoship to continue funding the team then why wouldn't he?
You're right, it's very possible. It's simply my personal opinion is that he won't, and thus, for me there's no obligation to become attached to something I perceive in the grand scheme of things (i.e decades of watching F1 to come) to be short-term. (Genuinely nice emoticon ).
Edited by Disgrace, 02 February 2011 - 02:57.
Advertisement
#20
Posted 02 February 2011 - 03:07
1. Vettel sh*ts me
2. Webber sh*ts me
3. Newey sh*ts me
4. Horner sh*ts me
5. Marko sh*ts me
6. Red Bull tastes yuk
If it was Coca-Cola Racing on the other hand...
As much as I dislike RBR, I HATE Ferrari.
I'm sure the feeling is mutual
#21
Posted 02 February 2011 - 03:09
#22
Posted 02 February 2011 - 03:41
DittoWhat a load of sh!t...
#23
Posted 02 February 2011 - 03:47
#24
Posted 02 February 2011 - 03:56
in vettel and his stupid finger
horner
marko
but im sure mark webber is different and hes more likable
#25
Posted 02 February 2011 - 03:59
I accidentaly started an offtopic on the The RB7 - The 2011 Red Bull Racing car thread about the "popularity" of RB on this BB and generally among F1 fans. I based it on the fact, that the mentioned thread had only 7 pages where most other cars have much bigger threads with lot of discussions. But it is visible with the bare eyes, that RBR isn't the most popular team, even less popular than some of the midfielders.
There were some assumptions why it is so, shortly written most popular of them are:
-They are a new team, not established in the fans minds.
-They haven't a popular driver like Lewis, Fernando or Robert
-They are branded based on a drink
Maybe there is something in this third point? I mean, car producers, had/have a pretty big fan base, because their cars have some fans. Privaters team, gain easily fans, because their are usually the under-dogs, and it's pretty admirable, that some private guy want's to race in the pinacle of motorsports and make a challenge to the big car companies.
And there are many people who would love to drive a Ferrari or McLaren once in a live, there are many people who are fans of Williams or Sauber because that are personalities.
And now look at a drink company? Can you be a fan of a drink company? Can your dream be, to own in the future a big can of this drink? That doesn't make sense.
So IMHO it's not a matter of time, rather a matter of the brand itself, altough I can be all wrong here.
And naturally I didn't take into account the second point, I mean, if Robert would drive for RBR, IMHO I and really much much people would became RBR fans from the scratch
Newey can come off as arrogant
Horner can come off as a two faced back stabbing liar
Vettel can come off as being unjustly pampered
I respect all three - but I can see how some people would not embrace them
#26
Posted 02 February 2011 - 04:05
I think we will talk more about RBR in the future.
In conclusion, I'm too young to know this.. was there many hype about the winning Benetton in the mid-90's? Because we could compare these two situations.
#27
Posted 02 February 2011 - 04:09
#28
Posted 02 February 2011 - 04:51
I've got no problem with Red Bull. As a matter of fact, since last year, they've become my second-favourite team in the field--kudos to the guys at the team for building a championship-winning operation in such a short time. I also admire their determination to stick with the "fair-play" policy despite the introduction of team orders--it'll be interesting to see if they hold true to their word in 2011 or if they'll show the dark side that we kept hearing about in 2010.
#29
Posted 02 February 2011 - 05:03
In conclusion, I'm too young to know this.. was there many hype about the winning Benetton in the mid-90's? Because we could compare these two situations.
The hype was more all about Michael Schumacher. Benetton had key people contributing to that 2 year success and, once they left, it was soon over.
Red Bull are better than that....Newey is the key to longevity at the top.
#30
Posted 02 February 2011 - 05:25
#31
Posted 02 February 2011 - 05:39
Success doesn't always bring you adulation unless you're a cinderella story. but it only lasts for so long before others want to see you fall. If people dislike you for being successful, you're doing something right.
#32
Posted 02 February 2011 - 05:53
uhh.... i don't think force india is a national team. Mallya just named it force "india" so he can get a fanbase in india and sell his product more. i believe they still do business as usual like the old team which was bought over. they r based in uk i guess. but thats just my opinion. plz correct me if i m wrong...I'm not a fan of energy drink teams... Or national teams like Force India. Or B teams like Toro Rosso and Super Aguri. Nostalgia is big in F1, and Ferrari/Mclaren fans aren't known to jump ship, especially to a cocky team with a finger sticking boy.
#33
Posted 02 February 2011 - 05:56
Edited by WhiteBlue, 02 February 2011 - 06:10.
#34
Posted 02 February 2011 - 05:59
#35
Posted 02 February 2011 - 06:01
#36
Posted 02 February 2011 - 06:06
#37
Posted 02 February 2011 - 06:11
Give RBR a Dany Bahar and the team will be an instant F1 legend like Ferrari and McLaren.I think partly because the team doesn't have a narrative to warm to. It's Red Bull. How exciting is that. And before then it was Jaguar, which was so corportately messed up they made Toyota look like Williams. If RBR had kept someone like JYS on in the figurehead role, as it was his original team, they'd probably have a better profile. But instead we have Christian Horner. Neither charismatic nor particularly clever. And we are given a coating of his empty quotes near on daily by this website.
#38
Posted 02 February 2011 - 06:14
#39
Posted 02 February 2011 - 06:22
Nobody liked Flavio Briatore, so any Renault fans wisely kept their heads down.Were there a ton of Renault fans(outside of the Spanish armada) when they were winning?
Advertisement
#40
Posted 02 February 2011 - 06:27
I don't think some of you get what TC is saying. He is asking why there arent more fans of RBR, not why McLaren/Ferrari/Merc fans don't like them.
Indifference on my part. As much as I am a fan of what cars Adrian Newey produces they just don't interest me as a team.
Similar to how it was with Benetton in the mid '90's.
#41
Posted 02 February 2011 - 06:32
I was a huge fan of StewartGP, even hollowly supported Jaguar because of Webber.
Became a Red Bull fan after Webber re-joined them, and have been ever since.
All the RBR hate I laugh at. The company has kept quite a few teams and/or drivers careers afloat for quite a few years via sponsorship before deciding to up their game and create their own team.
They kick ass. More power to them.
#42
Posted 02 February 2011 - 06:46
#43
Posted 02 February 2011 - 06:47
As soon as things go wrong, Dietrich Mateschitz will pull the plug like the manufacturers and as a result, can never command a loyal fanbase. I don't recall a loyal Toyota or Honda fanbase.
Here is where I think you're wrong. Red Bull sponsors and owns plenty of ventures in the sports world that probably make no money for them. Owns 2 football clubs which most likely operate at a loss for both of them.... yet it didn't stop Dietrich for putting down even more money and build a 1st class stadium and the first one in the country specifically for the sport. Those red bull air races I doubt make any money, and not to mention the 2 F1 teams probably operate at a huge loss. Yet there is still money being pumped into them and have been for years. I consider Red Bull a privateer and for years the sport was made interesting by them, hope to see them in F1 for years to come.
Edited by f1seb, 02 February 2011 - 06:48.
#44
Posted 02 February 2011 - 06:49
#45
Posted 02 February 2011 - 06:57
I was a Honda fan, but only because I'm a Button fan.I don't recall a loyal Toyota or Honda fanbase.
#46
Posted 02 February 2011 - 06:59
#47
Posted 02 February 2011 - 07:07
#48
Posted 02 February 2011 - 07:10
Reasons I like Red Bull:
They are a breath of fresh air into a stale "sport"
Their drivers actually seem like likeable chaps unlike whiners at McLaren and Ferrari for example
They show that you can do it even when you don't have the shiniest factory or unlimited access to tobacco money
They do it even when they are not the favoured son of FIA
#49
Posted 02 February 2011 - 07:13
Here is where I think you're wrong. Red Bull sponsors and owns plenty of ventures in the sports world that probably make no money for them. Owns 2 football clubs which most likely operate at a loss for both of them.... yet it didn't stop Dietrich for putting down even more money and build a 1st class stadium and the first one in the country specifically for the sport. Those red bull air races I doubt make any money, and not to mention the 2 F1 teams probably operate at a huge loss. Yet there is still money being pumped into them and have been for years. I consider Red Bull a privateer and for years the sport was made interesting by them, hope to see them in F1 for years to come.
I might not like their F1 team, but I can't argue with that. And if it wasn't for their F1 team's management, I would like them a lot. You can't help but admire what they do for such a wide range of sports--especially at the grass roots level.
#50
Posted 02 February 2011 - 07:13