Klien questions RBR driver policy

[davewilson]

Red Bull Racing exile Christian Klien has questioned his former team’s move to partner Mark Webber with David Coulthard for 2007, labelling the decision to go with two experienced drivers “a bit strange”.


The 23-year-old Austrian was dropped in favour of 30-year-old Webber for the coming campaign, a move which ultimately brought a premature end to both his 2006 season and his long-term relationship with the energy drink firm.


Prior to its takeover of the Jaguar team for the 2005 season, Red Bull’s involvement in motorsport centred around its long-standing young driver programme designed to promote up-and-coming talents through the ranks – of which scheme Klien was one of the star graduates.


But 2007 marks the first year that Red Bull has not given one of its supported drivers a place in its main race team and Klien, now Honda's third driver, says he is not sure why his former employers have drifted away from that policy in favour of two drivers with a combined age of 65.


“Well, they’ve drifted away from what they were doing before, haven’t they?” he said in an interview with F1 Racing magazine (on sale now).


“Because, before, via their young driver programme, they supported young drivers into F1.

“So I guess it’s a bit strange that they now have, let’s say, two er, very experienced drivers.”

But speaking to ITV-F1.com last week, RBR boss Christian Horner said he believed the decision to go with such a seasoned driver line-up would bring new benefits to the team in its bid to move up the grid.

“What is clearly apparent is that both are extremely professional drivers,” he said.

“Both work extremely hard at their role within the team and work closely together on the development of the car.

“So it’s a different situation for the team.

“I think they will both bring the best out of each other.

“I’m convinced we’re going to have a healthy competitive spirit which will drive all of us forward.”

Red Bull Racing exile Christian Klien has questioned his former team’s move to partner Mark Webber with David Coulthard for 2007, labelling the decision to go with two experienced drivers “a bit strange”.


The 23-year-old Austrian was dropped in favour of 30-year-old Webber for the coming campaign, a move which ultimately brought a premature end to both his 2006 season and his long-term relationship with the energy drink firm.


Prior to its takeover of the Jaguar team for the 2005 season, Red Bull’s involvement in motorsport centred around its long-standing young driver programme designed to promote up-and-coming talents through the ranks – of which scheme Klien was one of the star graduates.


But 2007 marks the first year that Red Bull has not given one of its supported drivers a place in its main race team and Klien, now Honda's third driver, says he is not sure why his former employers have drifted away from that policy in favour of two drivers with a combined age of 65.


“Well, they’ve drifted away from what they were doing before, haven’t they?” he said in an interview with F1 Racing magazine (on sale now).


“Because, before, via their young driver programme, they supported young drivers into F1.

“So I guess it’s a bit strange that they now have, let’s say, two er, very experienced drivers.”

But speaking to ITV-F1.com last week, RBR boss Christian Horner said he believed the decision to go with such a seasoned driver line-up would bring new benefits to the team in its bid to move up the grid.

“What is clearly apparent is that both are extremely professional drivers,” he said.

“Both work extremely hard at their role within the team and work closely together on the development of the car.

“So it’s a different situation for the team.

“I think they will both bring the best out of each other.

“I’m convinced we’re going to have a healthy competitive spirit which will drive all of us forward.”

The Stig