Reigning Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen will make his Goodwood Festival of Speed debut next month as part of a major Red Bull presence at the event. Verstappen will drive the RB16B, the car in which he won his first F1 title in 2021, up the famous hill at Goodwood on Sunday of the July 11-14 event – and the car is one of seven The Red Bull F1 car is scheduled to see action. This is also the first time in the history of this event that the current F1 world champion will be present.
The Dutchman’s current teammate Sergio Perez will drive the RB19 from 2023, while team boss Christian Horner – a Formula 3000 driver in the 1990s – will also return to the wheel of the car. RB8 from 2012. Former Red Bull drivers Daniel Ricciardo, David Coulthard, Mark Webber and Christian Klien are expected to drive other cars up the hill, including the RB1 the team used to make its F1 debut 20 seasons ago prize. The extensive Red Bull line-up will follow the world premiere of the new RB17 supercar composed by Adrian Newey on Friday of the festival.
“In its 31-year history, this is the first time the Festival of Speed has celebrated a Formula 1 team on this scale,” said event founder the Duke of Richmond. “To include a current rider – not to mention the reigning world champion – the CEO and team principal, as well as so many team icons is great. “Goodwood’s motorsport events have always prided themselves on the accessibility they bring to fans and I’m delighted that Red Bull Racing has fulfilled our ambitions by bringing together a group of drivers and such illustrious and excellent cars.”
Current F1 teams are regulars at the event and Goodwood has previously revealed that six teams will be present in 2024. Joining Red Bull will be Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren, Alpine and Williams – Williams has confirmed that 2024 drivers Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant, along with team boss James Vowles, will take to the hills in the heats.
McLaren has also announced that Emerson Fittipaldi will drive the M23 design in which he won the 1974 F1 world title and Bruno Senna will drive his uncle Ayrton’s 1991 championship-winning MP4/6. This year marks the 40th anniversary of Ayrton Senna’s death at Imola in 1994, and also 50 years since McLaren won its first F1 world title, as well as the 1974 Indianapolis 500. The car that won that race – Johnny Rutherford’s M16C/D – will be on display at the McLaren garage at the weekend at Goodwood.
