Infiniti Red Bull Racing Era

Lore & Background

In January 2013, Adrian Newey admitted that development of the RB9 chassis had been put on hold during the second half of the 2012 season so that the team could concentrate on developing its predecessor, the RB8, to secure the 2012 World Drivers' and Constructors' Championship titles. The RB9 had a strong debut in Australia, with Vettel topping both Friday practice sessions and taking pole position. Vettel finished third in the race, while Webber finished sixth. In Malaysia, Vettel won the race after ignoring an order to let Webber win. In China, Webber qualified 14th but moved to the back of the grid for failing to provide a one-litre fuel sample; he lost his rear right wheel on lap 15, while Vettel finished fourth. In Bahrain, Vettel won ahead of both Lotus drivers. At Spain, neither driver got onto the podium. In Monaco, Vettel finished second with fastest lap, Webber third. In Canada, Vettel won ahead of Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton, Webber fourth. At the British Grand Prix, Vettel suffered a gearbox problem on lap 41, costing him victory; the race was won by Nico Rosberg, Webber finished second. Vettel won his home race in Germany. In Hungary, Vettel and Webber finished third and fourth. From Belgium to Brazil, Vettel broke the record for most consecutive wins in a season with nine. Vettel clinched his fourth World Drivers' Championship at the Indian Grand Prix. Mark Webber announced his Formula One retirement at the British Grand Prix, and the seat went to Daniel Ricciardo, confirmed in September.

In Their Own Story

The wind tunnel hummed in the background, a constant drone that served as the heartbeat of Milton Keynes. Sebastian Vettel sat strapped into the cockpit of the RB9, the Infiniti logo gleaming under the workshop lights. He ran his gloved hand over the carbon-fiber nose, feeling the texture that would slice through the air at Monza. The V8 engine sat silent behind him, but the tension in the room was palpable. "It feels alive," Vettel noted to Christian Horner, who stood nearby with a tablet scanning data streams. Adrian Newey stepped from the shadows of the garage, his glasses reflecting the blue and red livery. "That's the point, Seb. The car knows where it wants to go before you do." Outside, the roar of engines drifted in from a test session, but inside, there was only silence and anticipation. They weren't just building a race car; they were constructing a machine destined to rewrite history.

Reader's Guide

The basic colors of the RB9 are dark blue and purple. Sponsors include Infiniti, Red Bull, Rauch, Pepe Jeans, Casio, and Geox. On August 20, 2014, Red Bull presented a fully electric version of the RB9, fitted with the nose of the Red Bull RB10, intended to facilitate pit stop training for mechanics. At the start of the 2014 F1 season, Daniel Ricciardo raced an RB9 against a Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18 Hornet, piloted by RAAF pilot Michael Keightley.

Did You Know?

• Sebastian Vettel named his RB9 'Hungry Heidi' after German model Heidi Klum.
• The RB9 was the last car to win world titles with a V8 engine.
• Vettel broke the record for most consecutive wins in a season with nine, from Belgium to Brazil.
• As of 2026, the RB9 is not the most recent Renault-powered car to win a championship; the RB10 won the 2014 Constructors' Championship with a Renault engine.