Dietrich Mateschitz

A hugely influential figure, Mateschitz oversaw the rise of Red Bull from F1 newcomers to multiple-time world champions, while adding a second team — now known ...

So many of us have to be so grateful to him for the opportunities he’s provided and the vision he had, the strength of character [he had], and never being afraid to follow dreams, and chase dreams. He was a towering figure in motorsport and with Red Bull not only established two hugely successful Formula 1 teams but also supported motorsport of every kind and helped the careers of countless young drivers through Red Bull’s junior programmes. Stefano Domenicali, F1 President and CEO said, “I am deeply saddened by the news that Dietrich Mateschitz, a hugely respected and much-loved member of the Formula 1 family has passed away.

Austrian billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz, the co-founder of energy drink company Red Bull and founder and owner of the Red Bull Formula One racing team, ...

Later that year, he then also bought Minardi and renamed it Toro Rosso, astutely using it as a feeder team for Red Bull. German league regulations prevented the company from naming the team Red Bull Leipzig – its name in German, RasenBallsport, means “grass ball sport Leipzig” but the club just refers to itself as RB Leipzig. He was incredibly proud of the team, incredibly proud of everything we’ve done and have been achieving, and he’s been a passionate supporter and the backbone of everything that we do.” Red Bull operates soccer teams in top divisions across Austria, Germany, Brazil and the United States. Red Bull also has contracts with hundreds of athletes in various sports and a deep driver development program to get racers to the top level. Red Bull says Mateschitz worked on the formula for three years before the modified drink was launched under its new name in his native Austria in 1987.

Mateschitz, a reclusive man who rarely gave interviews, took a sweet drink that was already popular in Asia and adapted it for the Western market with huge ...

He was a passionate supporter and the backbone of all we do. The Italian said: "He was an incredible visionary entrepreneur and a man who helped to transform our sport and created the Red Bull brand that is known all around the world." Horner told Sky Sports F1 that Mateschitz "proved you can make a difference. - 'Visionary entrepreneur' - Formula One chief executive Stefano Domenicali described Mateschitz as "a hugely respected and much-loved member of the Formula One family". "A great man, one of few of a kind, for what he achieved and he has done for many people around the world and across so many sports." Red Bull expressed both its "sadness" at the Austrian billionaire's death and "gratitude for what he accomplished".