Red Bull Italy SailGP Team

Phil Robertson drives the Red Bull Italy SailGP Team's F50 catamaran, a match racing world champion who has raced at the highest level for over a decade. Robertson, a New Zealander by birth, brings close-quarters tactical skills that translate effectively to the intense mark-rounding situations that define SailGP racing.

The Red Bull sponsorship connects the Italian team to one of the most aggressive sports marketing operations in the world. Red Bull's involvement in sailing extends beyond SailGP, with previous sponsorship of Alinghi in the America's Cup and various extreme sailing events. The brand's identity, built around speed, danger, and spectacle, aligns naturally with F50 racing at 50 knots.

Italy's sailing culture is among the richest in the Mediterranean, spanning America's Cup campaigns (Luna Rossa), offshore racing (the Giraglia, Middle Sea Race), and a tradition of yacht design and construction that has produced some of the most beautiful boats in history. The SailGP team provides a competitive platform that complements Italy's America's Cup ambitions through Luna Rossa.

Robertson's challenge is converting match racing instincts into fleet racing success at events like the Abu Dhabi Grand Final. Match racing is about beating one opponent; fleet racing is about beating twelve. The tactical calculus is different, though the boat handling skills, particularly in the high-speed manoeuvres of tacking and gybing on foils, are identical. Robertson's experience and competitive drive make the Italian team a threat at any event.

Italy's sailing ambitions in 2026 operate on two fronts simultaneously: the Red Bull SailGP team racing F50 catamarans at 50 knots across 10 global events, and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli building an AC75 to challenge Emirates Team New Zealand for the America's Cup. Robertson's team is the faster, more regular showcase for Italian sailing on the world stage in the months before the Cup campaign reaches its conclusion.