Currently reading: Red Bull boosts F1 investment
Energy drinks company increased its spend on F1 by £25 million last year to fund its 2010 challenger

Red Bull invested an extra £25 million into its Formula One team last year to help fund its assault on the 2010 world championship, according to reports.

In the year to 31 December 2009, Red Bull’s spending increased by 29.5 per cent to £107 million, in order to fund early development of its successful 2010 challenger. The team’s costs increased by 8.8 per cent to £157 million, with its single biggest expense believed to be the £57.2 million spent on research and development. This rose by 18.8 per cent year on year.

Read Autocar's ongoing review of the 2010 F1 season

Red Bull’s chief executive, Dietrich Mateschitz, said: “In F1 we have no long or medium-term business plans”, but he believes that the secret to the team’s success is because of its employees. “We have recruited the best and most professional people for all the key positions,” he said.

Red Bull’s highest earner is Adrian Newey, its chief technical officer, who joined from the rival McLaren team in 2006 on an estimated £8 million salary. The team’s performance has steadily improved since Newey's appointment and Mateschitz said he was keen to hold onto all personnel to help maintain the Austrian team's performance going forward. “The goal is to reach the top as quickly as possible and stay there for as long as possible," he said.

Aaron Smith

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The Colonel 4 November 2010

Re: Red Bull boosts F1 investment

tonym911 wrote:
I thought Newey's reported salary of £8m a year was a bit strong

By then end of the season, so long as they actually complete races, that'll be around £17,000 per constructor's point, which I'm sure Red Bull will consider excellent value for money.

What does Wayne Rooney, or any footbalista, cost per goal?

tonym911 4 November 2010

Re: Red Bull boosts F1 investment

I thought Newey's reported salary of £8m a year was a bit strong until I realised that's still a full £100k a week less than what Rooney now earns. £100k A WEEK.

KarlosG 2 November 2010

Re: Red Bull boosts F1 investment

thebaldgit wrote:
team with the largest budget usually wins, last years Brawn win being a rare exception,
You sure? Honda spent cumulatively close to £500 million on that car, £92.5m in 09/10 in a settlement fee. £273m 08/09 and around £120m in 07/08 in R&D