There’s no doubt that Infiniti Red Bull Drivers Sebastian Vettel (a three-time World Champion) and Mark Webber (nine wins and 34 podiums) know a thing or two about driving a Formula One car at the limit. There’s more to running a team than just turning hot laps, and when Seb and Mark are tasked with stickering up a blank Red Bull RB9 chassis, how well do you think they fare?
First, if you’ve ever put sponsor decals on a production car, you know how difficult a task this is. It doesn’t get any easier when every surface of the car you’re pasting up is designed to generate an aerodynamic advantage, and it’s pretty clear that neither Infiniti Red Bull driver will be going into the vehicle graphics business upon their retirement from Formula One.
In fact, they may know the car’s mechanicals, but it’s painfully obvious they aren’t paying much attention to the overall livery. We’re not surprised, since it’s their job to get the sponsors on the podium, not to get sponsor logos in the correct position on the RB9. In fairness to Seb and Mark, we’d bet the team’s graphics guy is a whole lot slower around the track than they are, too.
Kurt Ernst has been passionate about automobiles and driving nearly his entire life. His early years were shaped working in the family service station, though his real passion was auto racing. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Kurt spent a year club racing with the Sports Car Club of America, before focusing on a business career in marketing and project management. Later, his passion for writing and the automotive hobby found him freelancing for a variety of automotive news sites, including Automotive Addicts and Motor Authority, where his work was syndicated and appeared in several national publications. Recognized as an expert in the automotive field, Kurt joined Hemmings Motor News as an Associate Editor in 2013, and in the years since has progressed to Editor, Hemmings Daily; Managing Editor for Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Classic Car, Hemmings Muscle Machines, and the Hemmings Daily; and now, Managing Editor, Hemmings Auctions. Kurt was instrumental in organizing the Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance from 2013-2019, and has served as a judge at this event and The Vintage Racing Stable Concours d’Elegance. A Skip Barber Racing School graduate and prolific writer, Ernst is also skilled in copyediting, project management, brand development, and public relations.
