AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Austrian billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz, the co-founder of power drink corporate Crimson Bull and founder and proprietor of the Crimson Bull System One racing crew, has died. He used to be 78.
Officers with the Crimson Bull racing crew at america Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, stated Saturday that Mateschitz had died.
There used to be no instant phrase the place he died, or a reason behind dying.
Crimson Bull crew major Christian Horner paid tribute to Mateschitz in a while earlier than its drivers Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez were given of their vehicles for qualifying on the U.S. race.
“He’s the explanation that we’re right here. It used to be his interest for System One and his imaginative and prescient. He used to be at all times enthusiastic, encouraging and supportive at the just right days and the dangerous days,” Horner stated. “I think privileged to have identified him. For the entire crew now, regardless of the surprise, we’re going to do just what he would have sought after, which is to move there along with his vehicles and do the easiest that we will be able to, and take a look at to near this constructor’s championship (name) down.”
Crimson Bull driving force Verstappen has already secured the drivers’ name for a 2d directly season.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of motor sports activities governing frame FIA, stated Mateschitz used to be “a towering determine in motor game.”
“The ideas of all of the FIA circle of relatives are along with his family members at the moment and he’ll be a great deal neglected.”
Mateschitz received reputation as the general public face of Crimson Bull, an Austrian-Thai conglomerate that claims it offered just about 10 billion cans of its caffeine and taurine-based drink in 172 nations international ultimate yr.
Mateschitz now not best helped the power drink turn into well-liked all over the world, but in addition constructed up a sports activities, media, actual property and gastronomy empire across the emblem.
With the rising luck of Crimson Bull, he considerably expanded his investments in sports activities. Crimson Bull now operates soccer golf equipment, ice hockey groups and F1 racing groups, and has contracts with loads of athletes in quite a lot of sports activities.
Mateschitz and Thai investor Chaleo Yoovidhya based the corporate in 1984 after Mateschitz known the possible in advertising and marketing Krating Daeng – some other power drink created by way of Chaleo – for a western target audience. Crimson Bull says Mateschitz labored at the method for 3 years earlier than the changed drink used to be introduced below its new title in his local Austria in 1987.
Underneath Mateschitz’ stewardship, Crimson Bull briefly greater its marketplace percentage, first in Europe, then in america, helped by way of advertising and marketing campaigns selling the drink’s claimed stimulating homes and in depth sponsorship agreements in motorsports, football, excessive sports activities and the track business.
The Crimson Bull Racing crew has loved luck in System 1, profitable the constructors’ championship in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013, whilst German driving force Sebastian Vettel received 4 drivers’ championships in row whilst signed to the crew.
Crimson Bull operates football groups in best divisions throughout Austria, Germany, Brazil and america. The corporate began by way of purchasing Austrian membership SV Austria Salzburg in 2005 and rebranding it within the corporate colours below the title Crimson Bull Salzburg.
It repeated the transfer in Germany, the place it purchased fifth-tier membership SSV Markranstädt in 2009, rebranded it as RasenBallsport Leipzig, and financed its secure development throughout the league machine until it used to be promoted to the Bundesliga in 2016. German league laws avoided the corporate from naming the crew Crimson Bull Leipzig – its title in German, RasenBallsport, approach “grass ball game Leipzig” however the membership simply refers to itself as RB Leipzig.
Mateschitz additionally made headlines for his populist perspectives. He up to now criticized German chancellor Angela Merkel for her dealing with of the refugee disaster over 2015-16. The Austrian Servus TV station, owned by way of Crimson Bull Media Area GmbH, is understood for selling right-wing provocative perspectives.
Mateschitz purchased the Jaguar Racing crew from earlier proprietor Ford on the finish of 2004 and rebranded it as Crimson Bull for the 2005 season. Later that yr, he then additionally purchased Minardi and renamed it Toro Rosso, astutely the usage of the crew as a feed crew for Crimson Bull.
“It’s necessary that we acknowledge the entirety that he’s contributed to the game,” Horner stated. “No longer simply this game, but it surely is going means, means past that.”