Red Bull Racing's First Grand Prix Victory (China 2009)

Lore & Background

Vettel, who had made it a habit to give his racing cars names, named his RB5 'Luscious Liz'. After unspecified minor damage was found on this chassis after the Monaco Grand Prix, the team gave Vettel a new chassis, which he then named 'Randy Mandy.' Known as RB5-03, Webber revealed in 2019 that he had acquired 'Luscious Liz' as part of his contract. The car won the Chinese Grand Prix with Vettel, and Webber himself had won the British and Hungarian Grands Prix with the car. It was additionally responsible for the Belgian Grand Prix pole position.

In Their Own Story

Rain lashed against Sebastian Vettel's visor at Shanghai International Circuit, turning the track into a mirror of neon lights. Inside the RB5 cockpit, the car felt responsive, humming with a confidence missing in previous years. As the safety car peeled away and the tarmac began to dry, Vettel managed his tires through the changing grip levels where rivals struggled. He held off Jenson Button's challenge on the approach to Turn 14, securing the gap that would hold him to the flag. The roar of the crowd was muffled by the downpour, but in the pit wall, silence shattered into a chaotic eruption of hugs and tears. It wasn't just a win; it was the moment the future arrived.

Reader's Guide

The car claimed the first of four consecutive World Constructors' Championships for Red Bull Racing, and in the hands of Sebastian Vettel, took the first World Drivers' Championship of his career at the last round of the season. In qualifying, the RB6 was a consistent pace setter, setting the fastest time in 15 out of the 19 rounds. Red Bull's chief technical officer Adrian Newey later claimed that the car was 'probably the car with the most downforce in the history of F1.' In 2014, before his final race with Red Bull, Vettel stated that the RB6 was his favourite Formula One car to drive in his career to date.

Did You Know?

• The Red Bull RB5 was the first Renault-powered car to win a Grand Prix for Red Bull Racing, marking the team's breakthrough victory in Formula One.
• From 2011 to 2013, Red Bull Racing used Renault engines badged as Infiniti, operating as a customer team rather than a full-works partnership.
• The Red Bull RB5's victory in China 2009 was the first for a Renault-powered customer car since the Benetton B195 in 1995 and the Williams FW19 in 1997.