Reigning Moto GP champion Marc Marquez switched disciplines at the Red Bull Ring today.
The four-times Moto GP champion drove an F1 car for the first time in an event to promote the Austrian Grand Prix and Moto GP rounds at the circuit.
“From Moto GP to Formula 1 one of the biggest differences is that in Moto GP you can see everything,” said Marquez. “In Formula 1 you are like inside a box and then you see only two wheels, just in front, and it’s quite difficult because we are used to riding another way.”“The most difficult [thing] with a Formula 1 car is the braking. I already checked in the simulator and to understand the way to brake is the most difficult thing because with motorbikes always we brake and we stay there with the brake, and Formula 1 is completely different. You need to brake so hard in the beginning when you have the downforce, then release.”
Marquez said he could already feel the strain on his neck from the downforce after just three laps in the car.
“The downforce is incredible,” he said, “every lap you are faster and faster.
“But straight away the car is giving me a good feeling so I didn’t expect this but the feeling was there and we are trying to manage well but it is incredible. The nicest thing is in the fast corners, you are turning so quick and so fast, it’s so stable.”
Pictures: Marc Marquez drives Toro Rosso at Red Bull Ring
Pictures of Marquez in action.
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Chaitanya
5th June 2018, 14:22
What were his laptimes like around the circuit?
Matthijs (@matthijs)
5th June 2018, 15:12
He was driving a 2012 car with a outdated V8-engine on (super)hard Pirelli tyres. Comparison is irrelevant.
Matthijs (@matthijs)
5th June 2018, 15:18
Actually, form Motorsport dot com: “Laptimes were not released officially, but Motorsport.com understands Marquez gradually worked his way down to 1m14.9s best, and was earlier on for a lap six tenths quicker before spinning at the final corner.”
Osella-AlfaRomeo (@osella-alfaromeo)
5th June 2018, 15:27
So, no worries then for Brandon H.
Chirag Sharma
5th June 2018, 14:30
Is this rb8?
THOMF1S (@thomf1s)
5th June 2018, 14:32
At long last, Honda has its name on a championship winning car!
Schudha
5th June 2018, 14:50
Renault must be boiling over by now. They weren’t even on the car!!
James (@alebelly)
5th June 2018, 16:09
Driver, Car or Bike, Honda seems to take this racing thing seriously
ZUKMaN
5th June 2018, 17:28
It’s a crime to repaint old car in new colors just to pleasure new sponsors.
Pat Ruadh (@fullcoursecaution)
5th June 2018, 18:54
Agreed
Osella-AlfaRomeo (@osella-alfaromeo)
5th June 2018, 14:42
Did he drive a Toro Rosso with a Ferrari or a Renault engine? In a 2018 livery. Strange.
Osella-AlfaRomeo (@osella-alfaromeo)
5th June 2018, 14:45
it was the 2012 STR7 with a Ferrari V8
Jere (@jerejj)
5th June 2018, 14:52
@osella-alfaromeo I think it might actually be RB8 (2012 Red Bull) under the current STR-livery.
THOMF1S (@thomf1s)
5th June 2018, 14:54
I may be wrong, but this is the Red Bull RB8, which was Renault powered. I doubt they would have modified the car to run a Ferrari from that eras STR7, or a modern Hybrid Honda (if its even possible)
Osella-AlfaRomeo (@osella-alfaromeo)
5th June 2018, 15:01
You’re right, it’s the 2012 Red Bull-Renault RB8
THOMF1S (@thomf1s)
5th June 2018, 15:05
which begs the question, why not use the actual STR7? At least it’s a Toro Rosso…?
Matthijs (@matthijs)
5th June 2018, 15:13
@thomf1s It’s very common for STR and RB to share their promotion car. They just change the livery.
Matteo (@m-bagattini)
5th June 2018, 15:49
@thomf1s as far as I can see, every time someone outside the Circus tests an F1 it’s a pre-hybrid/kers era. F1 cars that you can book and try yourself are 2012 at maximum. My guess is that it has something to do with the danger of an electric shock.
BasCB (@bascb)
5th June 2018, 16:39
I think it has far more to do that there probably is no support at all from the engine manufacturer to run a hybrid engine in promo events @m-bagattini. In contrast older V8 engines are probably not hard to get an extra set for running in events.
Ed
5th June 2018, 17:23
@m-bagattini
Jorge Lorenzo tested the W05 Hybrid on Silverstone a few years back, courtesy of Monster Energy Drink.
At least RB10 shoud be available. RB8 is too old already.
BNK
5th June 2018, 14:50
I don’t know why they bother repainting old cars to look like new ones to be driven around once every couple years for publicity stunts. We all know they didn’t modify the car to fit a Honda engine either….but I guess the Ferrari/Renault engine is the property of the team after all these years so they can do what they like with the branding of the car!
BasCB (@bascb)
5th June 2018, 20:13
BNK it is far from certain that the engine would be property of the team, despite the amount of years it is old now. Most engine supplies in the last decades are in fact leases, so the engines stay under control of the manufacturer.
Ed
5th June 2018, 21:47
They probably did that because their team that has a Honda connection is the STR, and Marquez is a Honda rider.
On the other hand i saw a video of Verstappen driving this same model on STR colors (the previous livery) a few years back.
Must be something related to the Infiniti sponsorship, who knows.
Jere (@jerejj)
5th June 2018, 18:06
@m-bagattini ”F1 cars that you can book and try yourself are 2012 at maximum.”
– No, the 2016 cars are the most recent ones that can be used outside the race weekends and official test days without any restrictions. It’s been the case for a while already that the cars of the ongoing season, as well as the previous one, can be used for demo runs and other events, etc., outside the race weekends and official test sessions in a limited manner only.
Garns (@)
5th June 2018, 14:42
That’s very cool. You never know with some of these guys, they are so skillful. Rossi tested the Ferrari back in the day.
Was he quick for a newbie??
Matthijs (@matthijs)
5th June 2018, 15:14
@garns He was driving a 2012 car with a outdated V8-engine on (super)hard Pirelli tyres. What laptime do you consider ‘quick’?
Matthijs (@matthijs)
5th June 2018, 15:19
@garns Actually, form Motorsport dot com: “Laptimes were not released officially, but Motorsport.com understands Marquez gradually worked his way down to 1m14.9s best, and was earlier on for a lap six tenths quicker before spinning at the final corner.”
Garns (@)
5th June 2018, 15:27
@matthijs
No lap time as you mention an old car.
A quick time in an old car is when those on pit walls raise an eyebrow- then you know it was quick 🏁
socksolid (@socksolid)
5th June 2018, 17:56
Well at least it sounded quick.
Jere (@jerejj)
5th June 2018, 14:54
Why did they use the current STR-livery color scheme on RB8 instead of the RB14-livery?
Osella-AlfaRomeo (@osella-alfaromeo)
5th June 2018, 15:10
Why indeed. I think it’s forgery to put a Honda sticker on a (world championship winning) Renault engine ;-)
fluffydave (@fluffydave)
5th June 2018, 15:09
To answer u guys on why they used STR Livery, its because marquez is a honda factory rider, and str happens to be powered by honda ofc, the closest link they could get between redbull and honda
Warheart (@warheart)
5th June 2018, 16:16
Márquez/Pedrosa and the official HRC MotoGP team are sponsored by Red Bull as well.
Ed
5th June 2018, 23:53
yeah, but if you google it, you can find Verstappen driving this same model with the STR livery too, back in the time when Red Bull stil had Renault stickers all over the car.
https://adn.gpupdate.net/news/268912.jpg
Now i’m curious to know why they don’t use this car on its original livery.
Asanator (@asanator)
5th June 2018, 15:16
Damn! You forget how ugly F1 cars became at one stage!
BasCB (@bascb)
5th June 2018, 20:14
My first thought on seeing that car too @asanator!
nase
5th June 2018, 15:19
Say what you want about 2012, the cars from that season are instantly recognisable. Paint them in a 2018 livery, put a MotoGP driver in them, everything about them still screams 2012.
Matteo (@m-bagattini)
5th June 2018, 15:50
Well, the step on the nose is a big clue
nase
5th June 2018, 16:14
Exactly.
dutchtreat (@dutchtreat)
5th June 2018, 17:39
I understand that Niki Lauda is Austrian but what the heck is he doing at a Red Bull test…??
Maybe he is bored and lives nearby or Marko invited him, very strange though.
MrBoerns (@mrboerns)
5th June 2018, 18:10
Christ, that looks so wrong.
Why does it look so wrong?
PT (@pt)
5th June 2018, 20:38
The pictures from Dani Pedrosa’s test drive are yet to come, right Keith?
Dutchguy (@justarandomdutchguy)
5th June 2018, 20:38
At least F1 has the advantage he can’t fall or kick others off their cars
PT (@pt)
6th June 2018, 4:43
@Dutchguy
Yeah, Rossi would have realized that too when he tested the Ferrari.
Jimmi Cynic (@jimmi-cynic)
6th June 2018, 10:50
OMG! They risked his life and limbs! All alone on the track without a Todt Thong to protect him!
Probably why Honda just hired another ace rider for their MotoGP campaign…
PT (@pt)
10th June 2018, 18:19
So is this a Renault-powered Toro Rosso badged by Honda?