2023 Redbull Showrun MumbaiDavid Coulthard sets Mumbai ablaze with the RB7 F1 car

By Anagh BhaskarRedbull has been a pioneer in promoting Formula 1 in India. The team took its F1 car to Khardung-La and performed a show run in Mumbai in 2009. India also holds special importance to Redbull because it is the only team that has won the three races held in India, with Sebastian Vettel behind the wheel. For 2023, Redbull brought the Championship winning car from 2011, the RB7 to India and 13-time Grand Prix winner, David Coulthard, back to Mumbai for another display of what it is like to experience an F1 cars in close quarters.

Commenting on this third visit to India to drive for a showrun, Coulthard said,”It’s always good to be back in India. We truly appreciate the support the F1 fans of this country have always given us. It’s my third time here for the showrun and the enthusiasm in this country has only increased since my last visit. I look forward to being back in India again soon! It’s always a special feeling to drive a Formula One car for the sheer thrill of the fans and it was incredible to take the car for a spin at such an iconic location. What made this Showrun even more special was that we are the first team to have driven a Formula One car on the streets of Mumbai’s Bandra Bandstand. This city and its enthusiasm are something I will remember long after I return home.”

The Showrun was flagged off by Smt. Poonam Mahajanji, Member of Parliament – Mumbai North Central along with Ashish Shelarji, Member of Legislative Assembly of Maharashtra, officially unleashing the RB7 to enthrall the fans.

The route was set in Bandra Bandstand on a 1km stretch. The event also served as a showcase for supercars from the Super Car Club Garage, owned by Gautam Singhania, Lithuanian freestyle stunt biker Aras Gibieza on this stunt bike, and a superbike showcase. These were of course, overshadowed by the roar of the RB7, with its 2.4-litre naturally-aspirated V8 which revs to an insane 18,000rpm and produces upwards of 750bhp.

Redbull, however, has made changes to the RB7 to suit its role as a showcar and for shoots rather than winning races. As explained by Chris Gregory, Support Team Coordinator – Red Bull Racing and Red Bull Technology at the press conference which was held a day before the Showrun on Saturday. Changes to the car include a different engine cover, which dissipates heat while not being as aerodynamic efficient as the race-spec car. This is done to optimise the cooling for showruns and shoots that Redbull uses the car for. The car also uses an external starter, to keep the weight light, as well as modifications to the body to make it possible for the car to be transported via shipping container.

The sound and the shockwaves that the RB7 sent through the 25,000 spectators only pumped up the Sunday afternoon. The picturesque setting with the narrow yet technical road was an interesting setting for Coulthard, who scored the Redbull Formula 1 team’s first podium at the 2006 Monaco Grand Prix, finishing third.

The Redbull RB7 registered 12 wins in 2011 out of 19 races. Eleven of these were registered by Sebastian Vettel, while Mark Webber registered one. Speaking about the RB7, Coulthard said,“If you look at the rear of this car you can see how small and tightly packaged it is. It is a beautiful piece of engineering art. It is very nimble, feels like an extension of your body.”

The entirety of the showrun saw performances by the supercars, followed by motorcycles, stunts by Aras Gibieza, and three runs by the RB7 Formula 1 car driven by David Coulthard. The high-octane event saw 25,000 spectators, who were a mix of hardcore F1 fans, new fans, motorsport enthusiasts and even locals who couldn’t resist the enchantment of the very loud and extremely fast Redbull Formula 1 car.

The 2023 Redbull Showrun Mumbai ended with David waving the Indian Tricolour and engaging with the fans who had turned up in heavy numbers.

Currently, the Redbull Formula 1 team is leading the Constructors title with Max Verstapped winning the first race in Bahrain comfortably. With the sheer dominance the duo of Verstappen and the Redbull car displayed last season, it is unsurprising that 2023 will also see a very strong performance from them.