No More Red Bull Unas Or Red Bulletin?
Grandprix.com this afternoon are reporting that Red Bull may be dropping it’s famous Red Bulletin publication as well as cutting back on the extravagant parties the team hold at many of the races. The team, famous for its huge Energy Station with bars and dance floors, are said to be scaling back trackside affairs as the global economy suffers. Unfortunately, this could mean the laid-back fun-filled culture of Red Bull will fade away in favour of saving money.
The Red Bulletin became famous during 2005 when the then-new Red Bull Racing team started to publicise a more irreverent look at the sport they participated in. The world of Formula One is a pretty tense place at the best of times, and with the demise of Jordan Grand Prix, the paddock was missing its humorous edge. The Red Bulletin captured this well, and being a free magazine published throughout the grand prix weekend, it was accessible to all.
In 2006, Ron Dennis of McLaren only added to the magazine’s almost-cult status by banning it from his media centre, saying that he didn’t agree with making fun of those people who work tirelessly to keep the sport running and the teams and drivers competing.
Also potentially facing the axe is the Red Bull La Formula Una programme, the Unas being a group of local models chosen to represent the team at each race on the calendar.
Glamour, beauty and intelligence in the shape of the ten feisty and up-front ladies that the team brings to every Grand Prix to compete in the Formula Una Ladies Award. La Formula Una website.
When Red Bull entered the Formula One fray proper, they wanted to bring a bit of life and glamour to the Paddock and every race weekend. And one of the ways was the creation of the Formula Una programme: bright, energetic ladies who captured the spirit of Red Bull from the race’s host nation could apply to represent their country over the grand prix weekend. Red Bull Racing website.
So it would appear that glamour and beauty could take a hit in 2009, as well as all the famous parties organised by the Red Bull team. But at least there should now be some more room in the Monaco Harbour, as the Energy Station could be scaled down.
With the possible demise of the Red Bull fun, this could also mean BMW taking a more conservative approach to their grand prix extras, and I would guess the first thing to go would be the Pitlane Theme Park. The park allows fans to get very close to a Formula One car and the team allow people to have a go at changing tyres much like in a pitstop, as well as watching demonstration run up and down a strip of tarmac. While BMW haven’t said they will be making changes yet, it wouldn’t surprise me if more and more fun elements from the grand prix weekend disappeared next season.
Keith Collantine
November 19th, 2008 - 4:44pm
Well now I’m depressed
While we’re cost cutting, can we get rid of the damn refuelling rigs as well please?
Steven Roy
November 19th, 2008 - 6:17pm
The last thing F1 needs is the loss of these feature form Red Bull. We need as much irreverence as possible inside th paddock.
It would be a real shame to lose the BMW Pit Lane Park. I visited it earlier this year in Manchester and it is a great experience.
Dank
November 19th, 2008 - 6:35pm
I think James Allen of all people mentioned on his blog that Red Bull would be cutting back on the number of parties they would hold next year. But The Red Bulletin?
They can’t get rid of it. F1 is so po-faced it needs some light relief and anything that Ron Dennis hates means it goes up in my estimation.
I hope it is just that: a rumour
Oliver White
November 19th, 2008 - 6:42pm
We should make Ferrari test them all pre-season, and then watch as they destroy each one by dragging it halfway up the pitlane. That’d soon get rid of them!
I hope it stays as well, and I should reiterate I am merely speculating about that. BMW haven’t said anything about it yet, and I hope it stays that way. The same applies to Renault’s and Red Bull’s roadshows.
The comment about Ron made me laugh.
Dank
November 19th, 2008 - 7:45pm
Is it over already? http://www.redbulletinf1.com/ not working here!
Oliver White
November 19th, 2008 - 7:52pm
@Dank: The Red Bulletin site hasn’t worked for me for the last six months at least.
Dank
November 19th, 2008 - 7:58pm
Really? Oh, I guess you won’t miss it that much then?
Gman
November 20th, 2008 - 1:01am
See, it pays to read these F1 blogs- the girl who was my assistant in working with the American football team at our university from 2005-2007 was a participant in the La Formula Una program for the 2006 USGP- she worked for the Red Bull street promotions team in our area and that helped her land the gig. However, I never knew the name of the contest, so thanks Ollie…..
Now, I never read a print copy of the Red Bulliten, but to me the critical part of this discussion is if the team will continue to produce those GP preview videos that appeared on F1 Fanatic and elsewhere this season. If not, and that absolutley stunning hostess with the long brown hair and charming accent will be unemployed, I will lead the charge on SPEED network headquarters to get her employed as an additional trackside reporter
Oliver White
November 20th, 2008 - 12:00pm
Pretty, is she?
Pretty, is she?
Oh definitely. We occasionally come up with the goods!
donwatters
November 20th, 2008 - 7:06pm
The Red Bulletin site still works for me. I find it a great deal of fun. It would be sad to lose it. As far as the parties go, since I’ve never been invited, I won’t miss them. That said, I understand they added a great deal of panache and style to the weekend and brought back some glamour to F1. On that basis alone, I hope they don’t get shut down.
Alianora La Canta
November 22nd, 2008 - 1:31pm
The Red Bulletin site works for me. It looks like they’ve had a redesign since I last saw it, which requires more/better plug-ins. You may need to check you have the latest Flash or Shockwave or something to get the site working again.
Alianora La Canta
November 22nd, 2008 - 1:34pm
It’s also worth noting that the site is horribly slow, and that if you’re looking for the Red Bulletin magazines themselves, they’re in the “Magazine” section in the bottom-left-hand corner of the screen. Then the magazines are sorted into years, then races.
Hope this helps.