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F1: Red Bull Racing uses electric car for pit stop practice

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Khatir Soltani
From GMM

Red Bull Racing was experimenting with an all-electric Formula 1 car at Spa on Wednesday, publications reveal.

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport and Italy's Autosprint say the reigning world champions' electric prototype was in fact a 2013 Red Bull RB9 sporting a 2014 nose.

But the real novelty was its propulsion -- an all-electric motor to power the car in and out of the pit lane 'box' as the mechanics practiced pit stops.

After a practice stop, Autosprint correspondent Alberto Antonini reveals, the mechanic in the cockpit pushed a button, a reverse warning 'beeps', and the car lurched backwards to be ready for another stop.

Red Bull F1 Racing
Red Bull pit stop (Photo: WRI2)

Normally, the car is pushed forward by two or three strong mechanics.

"This is the new Formula E," Auto Motor und Sport correspondent Tobias Gruner quoted a Red Bull mechanic as joking.

He added that among the fascinated observers in the Spa-Francorchamps pitlane on Wednesday was none other than FIA technical delegate Jo Bauer.

Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
Automotive expert
  • Over 6 years experience as a car reviewer
  • Over 50 test drives in the last year
  • Involved in discussions with virtually every auto manufacturer in Canada