Tag Archives: Max Verstappen

Red Bull Hangar-7 Reopens with Star-Studded Motorsport Extravaganza

The iconic Red Bull Hangar-7 at Salzburg Airport roared back to life with a grand reopening celebration that blurred the lines between motorsport, aviation, and performance art. Leading the charge was none other than four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen, who electrified fans by piloting the championship-winning RB8 down the airport runway in a stunning display of speed, skill, and spectacle.

For the first time ever, the runway at Salzburg Airport was transformed into a motorsport arena, setting the stage for a jaw-dropping live performance. Verstappen wasn’t alone—joining him were legends and rising stars from across the motorsport spectrum, including MotoGP veteran Dani Pedrosa, Dakar Rally ace Daniel Sanders, and NASCAR talent Connor Zilisch.

The show featured an adrenaline-pumping mix of drag races, high-octane tire-smoking donuts, and tightly choreographed stunts. Machines like the WRC M-Sport Ford Puma, the fearsome Dakar Ford Raptor T1+, and KTM’s blistering MotoGP bike screamed down the strip in a celebration of mechanical might.

“This place feels like home,” Verstappen remarked. “There’s always something exciting happening here—planes, cars, helicopters. Motorsports and sports in general come together in such a cool way at Hangar-7. The drag race was a highlight for me—different machines, different disciplines, one strip of tarmac. Amazing!”

The reopening event wasn’t just about horsepower. It paid homage to Red Bull’s multidisciplinary spirit, featuring stunning aerial stunts by the Flying Bulls, immersive musical acts, and dazzling showcases of human athleticism. From the gravity-defying moves of street trials legend Danny MacAskill to the flair of freestyle tennis pro Stefan Bojić, the entertainment spanned far beyond the track.

Live performances from Red Bull athlete and slalom skier Lucas Braathen and Keinemusik’s DJ Rampa set the mood, while British singer and DJ John Newman brought the night to a euphoric close with a high-energy outdoor concert against the breathtaking backdrop of Hangar-7.

Red Bull Hangar-7 has always defied categorization. Originally envisioned by Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz as a fusion of art, aviation, and culinary brilliance, the venue continues to serve as a cultural landmark. The reopening reaffirmed its status—not just as a hangar, but as a canvas for creativity, adrenaline, and bold ideas.

With the thundering engines now quieted and the tire smoke settled, one thing is clear: Hangar-7 is back, and it’s more vibrant, more daring, and more inspiring than ever.

Source: Hangar-7

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Max Verstappen called Aston Martin Vantage Safety Car “turtle”

Since last year, Aston Martin and Mercedes have safety cars in Formula 1. Aston Martin F1 is driven by former DTM driver Bernd Maylander, who did his job twice during Sunday’s race at the Australian Grand Prix. Some drivers were not happy with the performance of the Aston Martin F1, like Max Verstappen who called it a “turtle”.

Most drivers used hard tires at the time the safety car came out on the track, so drivers had big trouble warming them up by driving behind the Vantage which is obviously slower than the Mercedes. This annoyed Max Verstappen who said after the race: “There’s so little grip and also the safety car was driving so slow, it was like a turtle. Unbelievable, to drive 140 km/h on the back straight, there was not a damaged car, so I don’t understand why we have to drive so slowly. We have to investigate.”

Mercedes driver George Russell was harsher: “We have no problem with when the safety car is Mercedes-AMG. One serious note, Mercedes-AMG is five seconds faster than Aston Martin, and that’s very significant.”

The Aston Martin F1 is powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine with 528 hp (388 kW) and 505 lb-ft (685 Nm) of torque. Power is transmitted to the rear wheels via an 8-speed ZF automatic transmission. It reaches 62 mph in 3.6 seconds with a top speed of 195 mph (314 km / h).

The Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series, which is also used as a safety car, is powered by a 4.0L twin-turbo V8 engine with 730 hp (537 kW) and 590 lb-ft (800 Nm) of torque. Power is transmitted to the rear wheels via a 7-speed twin-clutch automatic transmission. It reaches 62 mph in 3.2 seconds with a top speed of 202 mph (325 km / h).

The winner was Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, second was Sergio Pérez (Red Bull) and third was George Russell (Mercedes).

Source: Motorsport