Take four Formula One drivers, two of the worldâs most unlikely six-wheeled off-road machines, add in some Styrian countryside and a selection of uniquely Austrian challenges, youâve got the recipe for the perfect build-up to Formula Oneâs double header at the Red Bull Ring.
In this most Austrian of adventures, Max Verstappen, Sergio PĂŠrez, Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda first travelled to Red Bullâs state-of-the Hangar 7 facility in Salzburg where they jumped on board a Cessna 208 Caravan seaplane for the short 80km flight to Styriaâs largest lake, Grundlsee. Kitting themselves out in lederhosen, the Bulls faced their first challenge, racing two of the lakeâs traditional Plätte boats.
The race was to reach the key to the next challenge. And in this case the prize turned out to be actual keys, to a pair of enormous six-wheel Pinzgauer trucks.
Originally manufactured in Graz, Pinzgauers are six-wheel, all-terrain vehicles capable of taking on daunting landscapes, and the most treacherous of inclines and declines. The drivers were tested to make full use of the Pinzgauerâs capabilities as they went head-to-head through the forests of deepest Styria on their way to the Red Bull Ring. And once at the home of F1 in Austria and with a suitably damp track awaiting them, there was only one final challenge to face â an all or nothing sprint to the flagâŚ
âHonestly Iâd never seen anything like the Pinzgauer before â a six-wheel car. It was used in the army I think. I donât know when but it pretty was cool to driveâ said Max. âItâs always nice to race in Austria and now we get the opportunity to do it twice. Itâs our home Grand Prix and weâve won it before, so hopefully we can have two good weekends here.â
Sergio added: âIt was very competitive, very serious (laughs) and the best type of Red Bull preparation you can have for the race weekend.â
Scuderia AlphaTauriâs Yuki Tsunoda said: âIt was a really interesting and exciting event and there was plenty of teamwork. It was fun. The driving in the off-road with the Pinzgauer, we got stuck a lot on the hills and we had a tough time to get out from there, but it was fun.â
Pierre concluded: âWe went around the Austrian countryside and discovered a lot of different parts of the country before we ended up at The Red Bull Ring. It was also good to be with all four drivers together.â