1. Patrick Friesacher is the longest-serving Red Bull driver, and drove for the Minardi Formula One team during the first half of the 2005 season.
39 Facts About Patrick Friesacher
1. 2.
Patrick Friesacher started out racing motocross at the age of 5, but switched to kart racing in 1990, after watching a race at the A1-Ring.
3.
Patrick Friesacher became the first Red Bull junior driver in 1994.
4.
In 1995, Patrick Friesacher raced in the Torneo delle Industrie, finishing in the 11th position.
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Patrick Friesacher moved to the German Formula 3 series in 2000, securing two wins at Sachsenring and Oschersleben to finish sixth in the standings.
6.
In 2001, Patrick Friesacher jumped to Formula 3000, where he scored three top-six finishes for the Red Bull Junior team, finishing 13th.
7.
Patrick Friesacher stayed with Red Bull for the 2002 season, achieving his maiden podium at Monaco and improving his Drivers' Championship record to 10th place.
8.
Patrick Friesacher finished 5th in 2003 season, winning the Hungarian round after recovering from a broken arm sustained during a race earlier in the year.
9.
Patrick Friesacher again finished fifth in the standings, with another race win at the Hungaroring.
10.
On 22 November 2004, Patrick Friesacher drove his first Formula One test for Minardi, running 41 laps at the Misano circuit in Italy.
11.
Patrick Friesacher was the fastest driver of the day, going over two seconds faster than second-placed Tiago Monteiro.
12.
Patrick Friesacher drove one of the team's two-seaters three days later.
13.
Patrick Friesacher then signed to become the team's third driver for the 2005 season, as Nicolas Kiesa was slated to race alongside Christijan Albers.
14.
However, Kiesa failed to raise the required sponsorship, and on 14 February 2005, Patrick Friesacher was announced as the titular driver.
15.
On 19 February 2005, Patrick Friesacher drove his first test session as Minardi's titular driver at Imola.
16.
Patrick Friesacher completed 59 laps and was faster than his teammate Albers by 0.1 second.
17.
Patrick Friesacher then drove a total 18 laps in the two Saturday Free Practice sessions, spinning off the wet track and with his best lap time being 4 seconds slower than his teammate.
18.
Patrick Friesacher started the race in 16th place, last among the drivers who set times at both sessions, but ahead of his teammate nonetheless.
19.
Patrick Friesacher was down to 19th after the start, with only Albers behind.
20.
Patrick Friesacher pitted following the incident, falling to last place.
21.
Patrick Friesacher remained at the back of the pack for the remainder of the race, finishing 17th following retirements, four laps behind winner Fisichella.
22.
ITV's Martin Brundle noted during his debut race that he felt Patrick Friesacher had never looked like a potential F1 driver.
23.
In Malaysia, Patrick Friesacher started at the back of the grid.
24.
Patrick Friesacher had a good start, overtaking Albers by lap 2, but spun off on oil left on track and was unable to continue.
25.
At the Monaco Grand Prix, Patrick Friesacher had his highest Formula One grid position at 13th place, setting faster times than Albers and both Jordan drivers in qualifying, He was running in front of the other backmarkers on Sunday, but on lap 29 he lost control of the car and crashed at Nouvelle Chicane, effectively ending his race.
26.
Patrick Friesacher was behind Albers when he retired again in Canada due to a power steering failure.
27.
At the infamous United States Grand Prix, Patrick Friesacher picked up his only three Formula One Championship points after coming sixth out of the six Bridgestone-equipped drivers who competed.
28.
Patrick Friesacher started the race at the back of the grid and did not pose a threat to his teammate, In France, an 18th place start came to nothing as a puncture took him out of the race.
29.
Patrick Friesacher finished last, one lap behind his teammate and four laps behind the race winner Montoya.
30.
On 19 July 2005, it was announced that Patrick Friesacher had been dropped from the Minardi team due to the failure of his personal sponsors to pay Minardi the amounts agreed at the start of the season.
31.
In 2006, Patrick Friesacher joined the A1 Grand Prix of nations racing for his home country, Austria for the Mexican Grand Prix, clinching 18th in his first A1GP qualifying session.
32.
Patrick Friesacher then went on to finish tenth and ninth, scoring a total of three points for the team.
33.
In early 2008, American Le Mans Series team Risi Competizione announced that Patrick Friesacher had been hired to co-drive the team's second Ferrari F430 racing car.
34.
Patrick Friesacher missed part of the season due to his back injury sustained in A1 GP testing.
35.
Patrick Friesacher has a sister named Nicole and a younger brother named Kevin, who is a race driver.
36.
Patrick Friesacher had Ayrton Senna as his role model growing up, his favorite bands are Green Day and Blink-182.
37.
Patrick Friesacher drove one of Minardi's two-seater cars in the Thunder at the Rock event at Rockingham, on 30 August 2003.
38.
Patrick Friesacher finished 3rd in the 10-lap-race, with footballer Teddy Sheringham riding alongside him.
39.
Patrick Friesacher ran a Red Bull-themed helmet while a member of their Junior Team.