Mateschitz: Klien could earn F1 return
Red Bull boss Dietrich Mateschitz believes that Christian Klien could have opportunities to return to Formula One in the future if he impresses in the Champ Car World Series
Klien has been offered a Red Bull-backed drive with Champ Car team PKV Racing for 2007 after being dropped from the company's F1 roster in favour of Mark Webber.
"In US racing he has a fair chance to establish himself there in the top," said Mateschitz.
"He can become a hero there and by this he will remain in the focus of F1 and can offer his services in F1 again."
Should Klien decline the Champ Car drive, the seat is expected to go to current Toro Rosso test driver Neel Jani.
Mateschitz reiterated that Klien lost his place in F1 because he trailed teammate David Coulthard too often.
"Christian always knew what was demanded from him this season: to be quicker than DC and put pressure on him," said Mateschitz.
"He did not come up with that. Finally, it's the points that count."
The team boss is confident that he has chosen the right replacement in Webber.
"He is fast, skilled, a straight-forward guy, a character - he just fits perfectly into Red Bull's profile," Mateschitz said.
"I expect from him to put that pressure on DC and make him even faster too. It will make a difference for us if David scores 20 points and the other driver two or also 20..."
Share Or Save This Story
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Jon Noble: An unfair perception or a genuine concern? Lifting the lid on Red Bull’s Tsunoda scepticism
Top five roles on Motorsport Jobs this week
Audi surprises rivals as it ran upgraded F1 engine at Barcelona GP after ADUO verdict
How Verstappen almost conquered the world’s greatest circuit
From simulator to stopwatch: The creative evidence teams have used to dispute F1 race results
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments