I’m sitting there in the blazing sun at the Austrian Grand Prix, trying not to get sunburned, and can’t help but think about Dietrich Mateschitz. Seriously, if you don’t know him, he was one of those larger-than-life guys. Red Bull co-founder, if you can believe it—passed away last October right when everyone was buzzing around the States for the GP.
So there I was, Jonathan Wheatley, not with Red Bull for this gig. Felt strange, like going back to your old school but now you’re in different clothes. Anyway, memories just flood back of the times at the Red Bull Ring. Mateschitz was always pushing boundaries there. He had this wild vision, and honestly, sometimes I think, “Did he ever sleep?”
And then, the weekend rolls on. Stake’s having a stellar run—best so far this season—which, no lie, was epic. Gabriel Bortoleto grabbing points in eighth… dude’s a rookie! Nico Hulkenberg right there with him in ninth, like the universe aligned for a brief moment.
Let me ramble about the Red Bull Ring for a bit. Emotional place for me, with all the history. Seeing victories shared with Mateschitz, it’s all mixed in my head. He always had this presence. I swear, just being at a circuit he loved, you feel it in the air. Nostalgia hit me like a ton of bricks, yet somehow it felt warm.
Then you have Gabby—and can we talk about this kid? It’s his debut year. No endless testing like the old days. He’s figuring it out race by race. Performance like this? Might be beginner’s luck—kidding! It’s more like instincts. Car’s on fire, in a good way, ya know? And it’s suiting Gabby and Nico just perfectly this time. Who knows? Maybe the car will keep this groove up everywhere they go.
Anyway… where was I? Nostalgia, circuits, and life lessons—it’s all tangled up. Makes you wonder what’s next, huh?
