Vettel Signs As Infiniti Director Of Performance

Infiniti Red Bull Racing driver and triple Formula One World Champion, Sebastian Vettel, has enhanced and extended his role at Infiniti by becoming the new director of performance for the premium automotive brand.

The German’s relationship with Infiniti formally began in 2011 and has already played a crucial role in developing Infiniti’s vehicle line-up, starting with the exclusive Infiniti FX Vettel Edition and most recently with the new Infiniti Q50.

Making the announcement, Infiniti President Johan de Nysschen said: ‘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.’

According to the brand, Vettel has been central to the development of the new Infiniti Q50 from its early stages, spending time with engineers in Japan to provide feedback on chassis dynamics, performance and handling. 

He was then involved in testing early models alongside Infiniti Red Bull Racing Test and Reserve driver Sebastien Buemi in Japan, around the Nürburgring in Germany, and at the Formula One pre-season test at the Spanish Circuit de Catalunya in early March.

Infiniti became the Title and Vehicle Performance Partner of Infiniti Red Bull Racing from the start of the 2013 Formula One season, and the F1 champ will now become even more involved in the development of more future Infiniti vehicles. 

Vettel added: ‘I am really happy to extend my relationship with Infiniti and become their Director of Performance. 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.’

The three-time World Champion hit the headlines in controversial fashion at the weekend, winning the Malaysian Grand Prix after disobeying team orders to overtake teammate Mark Webber.