DPA/Melbourne


With the Formula One season just around the corner, Sebastian Vettel has announced the name of his latest Red Bull race car.
And the German will have to showcase his driving skills more than ever before in ‘Suzie’ this season if he wants to capture his fifth straight world championship.
“The new RB10, we also call her ‘Suzie’. There is no reason for that, we just liked the name,” Vettel said on his personal website.
‘Suzie’ follows in the footsteps of ‘Hungry Heidi’, ‘Abbey’, ‘Kinky Kylie’, ‘Luscious Liz’, ‘Randy Mandy’, ‘Kate’s Dirty little Sister’ and ‘Kate’.
With the Red Bull team still struggling to figure out the new technical regulations, it remains to be seen just how successful ‘Suzie’ will end up being.
With the season starting this Sunday with the Australian Grand Prix, Vettel will have to prove his know-how behind the wheel to get the Red Bull team on par with the other racing stalls on the circuit.
“What’s important from my point of view is me giving exact feedback about how the car handles and the problems, how the car and engine feel so that everyone who is working on it can understand it a little better and get rid of the problems quicker,” Vettel said.
“Everyone in the team is really in good spirits. And everyone is ready to give their best. I don’t think anyone needs a kick in the rear,” he added.
The 2013 Red Bull car—’Hungry Heidi’—won the final nine races of last season, with the last non-victory dating back to late July. Red Bull’s goal with ‘Suzie’ in Melbourne will be to just finish the race.

“What’s important from my point of view is me giving exact feedback about how the car handles and the problems, how the car and engine feel so that everyone who is working on it can understand it a little better and get rid of the problems quicker”

Vettel said the whole team enters new territory after such dominance in the last five years, which have seen four driver’s and constructor’s titles, 47 victories and 57 pole positions.
“The last few years of course we were very spoilt with the success,” Vettel admitted. “But at the end of the day, the season hasn’t even really started.
“And we are happy that it’s about to get going to see where we are. But we are determined to push forward despite the difficult times.”
One thing is certain, Vettel knows that he and his Red Bull crew have plenty of time.
“The year is long. I think the challenge to get used to the new conditions is the same for all teams and drivers,” the German said.
“It’s a long time until (the final race on) November 23 and a lot can happen. We first have to see what happens race by race. Since everything is new, the expectations start at zero as well.
“And because of the difficulties we had in the tests, the first couple of races are extremely important to give us the direction of the rest of the season.”