Infiniti hires Sebastian Vettel as Director of Performance
03-29-13, 06:12 AM
#1
Infiniti hires Sebastian Vettel as Director of Performance
Three time Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel has been named Infiniti's Director of Performance and will "play an increased role in developing new Infiniti models", the Japanese luxury brand announced today.
Vettel actually started working with Nissan's brand back in 2011, helping with the FX Vettel Edition and the all-new Q50, but the collaboration between the Japanese automaker and the Red Bull Racing driver is now on official ground.
"Sebastian's talent and ability behind the wheel is unquestionable and his role in developing Infiniti vehicles has already proven invaluable. How many premium automotive brands can honestly say its vehicles have been developed alongside a triple World Champion? As our technical collaboration with Infiniti Red Bull Racing continues to deepen, so does our relationship with Sebastian who will be crucial to the development of our future vehicle line-up, ensuring Infiniti stands for passion and performance in a brand that challenges the status quo," said Infiniti President Johan de Nysschen.
"I am really happy to extend my relationship with Infiniti and become their Director of Performance," Sebastian Vettel added. "Helping to develop the Infiniti Q50 was a very different type of driving duty for me but I approached it in exactly the same way as I do my Formula One car. I am looking forward to working closely with Infiniti in developing more of their road cars into the future."
Infiniti has been involved with the Red Bull Racing Formula One team from the start of the 2013 season. While driving for Red Bull, Vettel has won the world championship three times in a row between 2010 and 2012.
Vettel actually started working with Nissan's brand back in 2011, helping with the FX Vettel Edition and the all-new Q50, but the collaboration between the Japanese automaker and the Red Bull Racing driver is now on official ground.
"Sebastian's talent and ability behind the wheel is unquestionable and his role in developing Infiniti vehicles has already proven invaluable. How many premium automotive brands can honestly say its vehicles have been developed alongside a triple World Champion? As our technical collaboration with Infiniti Red Bull Racing continues to deepen, so does our relationship with Sebastian who will be crucial to the development of our future vehicle line-up, ensuring Infiniti stands for passion and performance in a brand that challenges the status quo," said Infiniti President Johan de Nysschen.
"I am really happy to extend my relationship with Infiniti and become their Director of Performance," Sebastian Vettel added. "Helping to develop the Infiniti Q50 was a very different type of driving duty for me but I approached it in exactly the same way as I do my Formula One car. I am looking forward to working closely with Infiniti in developing more of their road cars into the future."
Infiniti has been involved with the Red Bull Racing Formula One team from the start of the 2013 season. While driving for Red Bull, Vettel has won the world championship three times in a row between 2010 and 2012.
03-29-13, 01:36 PM
#3
Really, because an F1 driver have so much time to work with engineering team of road cars halfway across the world lol.
Seems more like a brand / racing credential thing to me, maybe Seb drove it for like 3 laps and said "need more x, feels bit too y" and that's it, you have now bought an infiniti developed by a 3x F1 world champion lol
Seems more like a brand / racing credential thing to me, maybe Seb drove it for like 3 laps and said "need more x, feels bit too y" and that's it, you have now bought an infiniti developed by a 3x F1 world champion lol
03-29-13, 02:35 PM
#5
Lexus Fanatic
the first order of business should be to kill that POS 155k infiniti FX with his name on it. If he knows performance then he knows that SUV is a total joke. 155k for a 65K SUV with some total BS tweaks I could have done for under 10K. I personally think Infiniti doensn't need help with performance. Their cars are dynamically more fun than a Lexus. What they need to do is to expand the lineup and soften the cars up a bit. The steering in most Infinitis is heavy ( I like that but many old people dont), the brakes are a bit over responsive , and the throttle modulation makes the car leap off the line even when you don't try. Their "journey" or "touring versions need to be softened up even more. Also a fresh design would help. Their best seller is a bit lobular.
03-30-13, 11:17 AM
#6
Lexus Champion
haha the thought of the recently-held Malaysian Grand Prix still lurks in my mind 
03-30-13, 11:25 AM
#7
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Their cars are dynamically more fun than a Lexus. What they need to do is to expand the lineup and soften the cars up a bit. The steering in most Infinitis is heavy ( I like that but many old people dont), the brakes are a bit over responsive , and the throttle modulation makes the car leap off the line even when you don't try. Their "journey" or "touring versions need to be softened up even more. Also a fresh design would help. Their best seller is a bit lobular.
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