Formula One - F1 - Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2010 - Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - 14/11/10 (L-R) Red Bull Racing Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey, Team Principal Christian Horner, CEO and Founder of Red Bull Dietrich Mateschitz and Red Bull Motorsport Consultant Dr Helmut Marko Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Crispin ThrustonAUSTIN, Texas, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Formula One and the championship-leading Red Bull team mourned the death of the energy drink company's Austrian founder Dietrich Mateschitz on Saturday at the age of 78.
Red Bull Racing principal Christian Horner confirmed the news ahead of qualifying for the U.S. Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, where the team can clinch a fifth constructors' championship.
Mateschitz bought the Ford-owned Jaguar team at the end of 2004 and turned it into Red Bull Racing, an outfit whose maverick image masked a fierce competitive spirit.
The Austrian also bought the Italy-based Minardi team and renamed it Toro Rosso, the Italian for Red Bull.
"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."