Vettel receives Red Bull Racing-DeZir at Frankfurt

FIA Formula One World Champion Sebastian Vettel received a very special trophy at the Frankfurt International Motor Show today; a scale model of the new Renault concept car, DeZir, branded in the exact colours of his Red Bull Racing RB7 chassis, which won the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday.

The model was presented to him by Laurens van den Acker, SVP Corporate Design, at the Renault press stand yesterday.

DeZir is the first project to be led by Dutchman van den Acker and the first step in the new strategy design of Renault, taking its inspiration from the brand’s new signature Drive the Change. It is an illustration of Renault’s commitment to more emotional styling and coincides with the introduction of a new Renault design language that takes its inspiration from the three keywords which communicate the brand’s vision, namely ’simple’,’ sensual’ and ’warm’. Powered by an electric motor, DeZir is proof that beautiful cars and environmental concern are by no means incompatible.

Speaking at the show, van den Acker said, "I felt the model symbolized the wider relationship between Red Bull Racing and Renault, which has recently been extended and reinforced to run for a further five years. At the same time DeZir was designed to represent the notion of a person’s ‘life cycle’; their successes and growing wisdom. Rebranding the model with the colours of the Red Bull Racing chassis with which he is now so closely associated shows how it relates directly and personally to Sebastian’s own life. It was quite an emotional moment to present the model to Sebastian today."

Sebastian Vettel commented, "I was touched to receive the model from Laurens as he had really thought about it personally. I got the opportunity to see the car at the Nordschleife earlier in the year, and could see how stunning it was – really different. I also got the chance to drive it for myself, and now I’ve got a good reminder of it, plus a permanent model of the ongoing relationship between Red Bull Racing and Renault, which has been very successful and important in my career."