It was the autosport awards charity auction over the weekend and people were raising money for the Grand Prix Trust; an organization which provides help and advice to Formula 1 trackside and factory-based team personnel. With prizes put up by the teams and FORMULA 1, for things such as signed team wear/gear and Lunch with F1’s Ross Brawn. The Mercedes team offered up a brilliant prize of a factory tour to the highest bidder.
In a hilarious twist of fate the winning bidder was non other than their biggest rival team principal Christian Horner, who bid £4000 for the opportunity to get an inside look around Brackley.
It remains to be seen, whether the prize will be honoured, but its a cheeky manoeuvre by the Red Bull boss.
Interestingly, its not the first time Christian has made such an effort to peek behind the curtains of a rival team. In 2008 Mr Ginger Spice was invited by David Coulthard to tour the McLaren Technology Centre, although it didn’t quite go as expected.
“DC invited us and Martin Whitmarsh was there,”
“I went with Adrian; he obviously knew his way around and everywhere he wanted to go we weren’t allowed!
“I think we saw the marketing and electronics departments, and had a very nice lunch, and that was about it,”
Christian Horner on his visit to MTC in 2008
Of the prospect of getting his chance to wander around the 8 consecutive champion’s Brackley base, Christian confirmed.
“Adrian, myself, Pierre Waché and probably Paul Field, our Director of Production, will join him in the tour”
“It’ll be interesting to go and see how they’re spending their budget cap”
“The money is for a great cause”
Horner confirms he had the winning Bid
Now we wait to see if Mercedes honour the prize in the same way McLaren did with their shortened tour, or if they get the full 5 star treatment.