It’s easy to compare Formula 1 and SailGP. Grand Prix and international sailing were both born at the end of the 19th century. Both forms of racing have gained a reputation as a place of sport for the wealthy while pushing technology to its limits in order to create the best racing games. fastest vehicle possible. Nowhe links the two industries is getting closer. Four-time F1 champion Sebastian Vettel announced the new German SailGP Team as co-owner.
Vettel launched the Germany SailGP team alongside two-time Olympic bronze medalist sailor Erik Heil. Heil will control the team’s catamaran on the water. Two-time Olympic champion Kahena Kunze will be by Heil’s side as the team’s strategist. She won gold medals in Rio and Tokyo for Brazil but has a German father. The team’s full lineup will be announced at a later date and debut this upcoming season, which begins with the United States Grand Prix in Chicago on June 16 and 17.
SailGP operates on a national team model, where almost every sailor on the yacht must be a citizen of the team’s country. Last season’s championship featured nine teams representing Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Great Britain, New Zealand, Spain, Switzerland and the United States.
The majority owner of the group is Thomas Riedel, president of the German media company Riedel. In a release, Riedel said:
“I see strong potential in all directions with the German Sailing Team: in terms of sport, business and health. We believe that a great movement can emerge from here. In addition, we can reliably address our concerns about sustainability and diversity and this is one of the reasons I approached Sebastien to participate as an audience. trusted partner and expert in technology and sustainability. Sebastian also knows how to win.
Vettel will take an active role in managing and running the team. The Retired F1 Champion speak:
“I saw a lot of potential when SailGP started its fourth and first season with a German team. The similarities between sailors and Formula 1 have existed for a long time. The boats are fascinating and the speed on the water is unbelievable. The races are fun and I’m happy to be with such a dynamic group of young sailors. In addition, the series not only uses wind power, but also strives to set new standards for sustainability in sport.”
SailGP’s catamaran can run at twice the speed of the wind pushing a ship, reaching speeds of 60 miles per hour. Sustainability is an important aspect of SailGP, with the championship taking aggressive measures to reduce its environmental impact when hosting spectator events. The series even hosted a parallel competition that was scored based on the positive actions of the teams to reduce their carbon footprint.
