High-flying visitors
Being part of the Red Bull family has given Alinghi Red Bull Racing the unique opportunity to share our journey with incredible athletes from around the world. At our Team Base in Barcelona, these visits have led to swapping insights, drawing inspiration from one other, and reinvigorating the team ahead of competition. Since the start of the campaign, there have been countless visits from Red Bull athletes, and while we can't mention them all, here are some of our standout moments…
Dani Sordo & Thierry Neuville - October 2022
As the first guests to step onboard BoatZero, Dani Sordo and Thierry Neuville marked a major milestone for the team. The rally drivers got a first-hand experience of the thrill of an AC75 while swapping tips on the high-speed worlds of sailing and rallying with Skipper Arnaud Psarofaghis (who also got to ride in the Hyundai i20 N Rally1 with Thierry!)
Stéfanos Tsitsipas - April 2023
Greek tennis sensation Stéfanos Tsitsipas visited with his family and won over the whole team with his warm presence. Touring the base, he was amazed by the scale of the operation, contrasting the individual nature of tennis with the huge number of people needed for an America’s Cup campaign.
Max Verstappen - June 2023
In a whirlwind visit, F1 triple world champion Max Verstappen squeezed a full schedule into just under two hours – experiencing the team's high-tech simulator then following alongside BoatZero on a chase boat at nearly 100 km/h. Accompanying him was legendary F1 designer Adrian Newey, who stayed on to continue exchanging insights with the Alinghi Red Bull Racing design team.
Kristian Blummenfelt - August 2023
Triathlon legend Kristian Blummenfelt achieved the impossible – he got our sailors to run! The crew took part in a unique triathlon with Kristian, before bringing him back to the Base to show him their world. From there, the roles were reversed as the triathlete joined the sailors on the water for a high-speed chase of the AC75.
Jack Miller & Brad Binder - August 2023
Motorcycle stars Jack Miller and Brad Binder received a warm, fellow countrymen’s welcome from Australian team member Tim Hacket and South African Jo Lees, who took great pride in taking them on an exclusive tour of the Base. On the water, the duo marvelled at the AC75 flying over the waves, and made comparisons between the organisation that goes into motorcycling and America’s Cup sailing.
Jaan Roose - Sept 2023 / July 2024
The slacklining phenomenon Jaan Roose holds a special place in Alinghi Red Bull Racing’s story. Twice he showcased his skills for the team: first during the Base Opening – performing a daring act between the Base and the crane – and then again for the Barcelona public on our Open Doors Day.
Dario Costa - September 2023
Coordinating a visit between two America's Cup teams – just before the first Preliminary Regatta – was no small feat, but Dario Costa’s fly-by was worth it. With Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli and Alinghi Red Bull Racing on the waters of Vilanova i La Geltrú, the record-setting pilot flew his aerobatic plane in between the AC40s, resulting in one of the coolest shots of the campaign.
Carlos Sainz & Cristina Gutiérrez - February 2024
The sailors loved this one. On a special day out during the team’s training camp in Jeddah, Red Bull rally car champs Carlos Sainz and Cristina Gutiérrez took the helm of our AC40s, enjoying a real moment of connection with the team as they sailed side-by-side on the Red Sea at 40 knots.
Marco Odermatt - April 2024
Triple alpine ski champion Marco Odermatt had the honour of being the first guest onboard BoatOne, lending his strength as a stand-in cyclor. A super star for all Swiss sports fans, ‘Odi’ probably ended up taking as many selfies as there are team members. In fact, he enjoyed the company so much that he stayed in the lounge for hours chatting and then went for dinner spontaneously with some of the cyclors!
Daniel Ricciardo & Marc Márquez - June 2024
This summer, 8-time Grand Prix winner Daniel Ricciardo and MotoGP legend Marc Márquez were in town for the Spanish Grand Prix, and dropped by to try their hand at racing the AC40s. Putting their reflexes to the test, the friendly race ultimately saw Daniel come out on top, ahead of his F1 appearance in Barcelona. They each took a turn ringing the bell at dock-out, but let’s just say not everyone nailed it on the first try (not naming names!)
Kai Lenny - August 2024
Kai Lenny’s two-day visit to the base made a huge impression on the team. Not only did he connect deeply with the crew – bonding with all the team’s kiters and wingfoilers – but he also became the first guest to sail both the AC75 and AC40. His reputation as the world’s greatest waterman shone through, bringing fresh insights, boundless enthusiasm, and even picking up a few new tricks to take back to his own sports.
The team was always eager to meet an athlete when they arrived. Yet the only person to have met every single visitor is Rigger Mathieu Van de Voorde, who asked each athlete to sign his container wall, where their names now sit alongside the signatures of the team.
As Alinghi Red Bull Racing looks toward what’s next, the team is excited about future collaborations. Which Red Bull athletes will be the next to join them on their journey?