There was a time some Red Bull appeared in the late 80s as Gerhard Berger’s personal sponsor on the grid. During the years, Red Bull went from a major sponsor for the Sauber team and a small sponsor for Orange Arrows to a dominant factor. In 2005, they debuted after purchasing Jaguar Racing. Only months later they purchased Minardi from Paul Stoddart and turned the team in Toro Rosso their own little B-team. However, in early 2000s Dietrich Mateschitz had a vision, an all-American Formula One team. It is where the Jordan Grand Prix from Eddie Jordan came in scope from Dietrich. Perhaps triggered with the flirt Jordan and Herta had in late 2002. Let’s dive into this side note in the history of Formula One which many have forgot.
A bit of history, 1999 was the best season for the Irish team. With Heinz-Harald Frentzen winning the French and Italian Grand Prix, he was for a long period the underdog in the championship. Especially, when Michael Schumacher had his massive shunt during the British Grand Prix where he broke his leg. Finishing third in the championship the future seemed bright. Sadly, this was not the case while the EJ10 from Mike Gascoyne was a beauty the other teams on the grid continued and became better as well. Where some podium were scored in 2000 in 2001, there were none. I would only become worst as 2002 would be one of the worst seasons so far for the team. Having a dispute with Honda and eventually also a lawsuit with Vodafone the team stumbled towards 2003.
It is the period from November 2002 onwards where some interesting rumours started to appear on two different paths. First of all late Dietrich Mateschitz sponsored the Sauber F1 Team from Peter Sauber for a couple of years now. For 2001 and 2002, he became as well a sponsor for Orange Arrows as his protégé Enrique Bernoldi was one of their drivers. However, 2002 was not a good year for the Orange Arrows team. Who doesn’t remember the French Grand Prix? Where both Bernoldi and Frentzen were forced to fail to qualify eventually the team disappeared from the grid, only to announce they would return in 2003 and eventually go into administration in January 2003.
Earlier in 2001 Mateschitz had an idea to setup an all-American team on the grid. Mostly in favour to promote Red Bull in the States. This attempt stands loose from Phil Hill who was also looking to put an all-American team on the grid around the same time. In November that same year, there were even plans to turn Sauber into that team however, Peter Sauber didn’t let that happen obviously. Probably the reason why Mateschitz sold 63% of the stakes he had in the Sauber team back to Peter Sauber in 2002.
With an attempt to buy Orange Arrows from Tom Walkinshaw in 2002, it became quiet for a few months. Until November 2002. Jordan Grand Prix lost its main sponsor DHL (Deutsche Post), indeed DHL as Benson & Hedges stepped down before as main sponsor the team was keen to find a new sponsor. There appeared rumours in the media that Red Bull could become one of the new sponsors for Jordan. However, the story goes completely different from what was said in the media. Eddie Jordan managed in August to snatch the deal from Jaguar Racing with Ford. Securing his team with Ford power from 2003 onwards. Out of sudden Red Bull was seen as the saviour for Jaguar Racing. Eventually this would happen, though at that point it was not the case at all.
Still keen to bring up his all-American team on the grid the search continued, and again the link with Jordan Grand Prix was there. The rumours became stronger in December when magazines like Autosport came with the news that Mateschitz had renewed his interest in Eddie Jordan’s team. Jordan needed money and a new sponsor and Red Bull could be the ultimate sponsor for the team. If you recall Eddie Jordan launched only a few years before his own energy drink there could come something amazing from it.
The main reason there was new interest was the fact that the EJ13 didn’t need to be in a yellow livery anymore since Deutsche Post had left the team. Therefore, another colour scheme could be used which suited Red Bull for example. As well, the Ford deal made it easier for Red Bull to gain ground in America eventually. Wild rumours went that Dietrich had offered a 60% stake in the team. The same time Eddie Jordan denied that such numbers were on the table.
There was probably another reason, around the same time Jordan was looking for drivers. For a brief moment, there was a fling between Jordan and Herta to drive for them in the Formula One. The reason behind that, if I have to believe some people, was that Red Bull would enter as sponsor at Jordan eventually. Eddie Jordan was even quoted during the 2003 Autosport International show “I hope Red Bull Jordan will become reality”.
Obviously, as history learned us, Red Bull Jordan would never happen, neither would Brian Herta race for the Irish team. In late January it seems that something happened and the focus for an eventually involvement with Red Bull would only happen as early as 2004. We know what happened. Red Bull purchased Jaguar Racing and appeared in 2004 as Red Bull Racing on the grid. |
It seems that in February 2003 the deal between Jordan and Red Bull went bust. The reason for it is Eddie Jordan his steadiness to not sell his team to Red Bull. Mateschitz was only to invest in Jordan Grand Prix if he could get the 60% stake in the team. Therefore, the plans were canned. Eventually Mateschitz moved to the States to sponsor. Eddie Jordan on his behave managed to sign a deal with Ralph Firman.
I asked Ian Phillips If he could recall anything of this episode. His answer was clear as water. He stated that Eddie and Dietrich met during a test session at Paul Ricard. Talks were ongoing to see if Jordan Red Bull could happen. Eventually, afterwards there seemed to have been no further contact and we all know what happened. Jaguar Racing became Red Bull Racing and Jordan Grand Prix went from Midland Racing to Spyker. Eventually becoming Force India, Racing Point to and Aston Martin who are believed to be on the grid for years with getting many key personnel from ironically Red Bull Racing.
