Red Bull's venerable good Doctor turns 80

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There was a festive atmosphere in the Red Bull garage Friday in Baku where Helmut Marko was celebrated just a day after his 80th birthday.

The good 'Doctor' – feared and revered by many young drivers in motorsport – still oversees Red Bull's driver development programme as well as the energy drink company's involvement in Formula 1, rarely missing a Grand Prix weekend.

It's worth recalling that the Austrian took part in nine Grand Prix in the early 1970s with BRM.

However, Marko's major success came in sportscar racing with a triumph in the 1971 Le Mans 24 Hours in a Porsche 917 with team mate Gijs van Lennep.

Unfortunately, the Austrian's racing career came to an abrupt halt in 1972, when a stone pierced Marko's helmet at the French Grand Prix at Clermont-Ferrand, permanently blinding his left eye.

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.