Red Bull Junior Team
The Red Bull Junior Team is a driver development program run by the energy drink company Red Bull GmbH in an attempt to identify potential future racing stars in open wheel racing. The similar Red Bull Driver Search, now ended, was an American spinoff of the same idea. Members of the Junior Team are financed and sponsored by Red Bull in lower racing formulae.
The programs have been successful in bringing a selection of drivers into Formula One. Four of them, Sebastian Vettel, Daniel Ricciardo, Max Verstappen and Pierre Gasly have won a Formula One race. Red Bull owns two teams in Formula One, Red Bull Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri.
The Red Bull Junior Team was also the name of RSM Marko, a team that competed in International Formula 3000 between 1999 and 2003, sponsored by Red Bull and run by Helmut Marko.
The Red Bull Junior Team was formed in 2001 as Red Bull's European driver programme. Red Bull offers funding and support for the promising young drivers that are part of the programme. In 2004, Christian Klien became the first Red Bull Junior to race in Formula One, while in 2008, Sebastian Vettel became the first Red Bull Junior to win a Formula One Grand Prix, the Italian Grand Prix.
Current drivers
| Driver | Years | Current Series | Titles as Red Bull Junior |
|---|---|---|---|
 Jüri Vips[1]
|
2018– | FIA Formula 2 Championship[2][3] | None as Red Bull Junior Team member |
 Jonny Edgar
|
2018– | FIA Formula 3 Championship[4] | ADAC Formula 4 Championship |
 Liam Lawson[5]
|
2019– | FIA Formula 2 Championship[3] Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters[6] |
None as Red Bull Junior Team member |
 Jehan Daruvala[7]
|
2020– | FIA Formula 2 Championship[8] F3 Asian Championship[9] |
None as Red Bull Junior Team member |
 Jak Crawford[10]
|
2020– | FIA Formula 3 Championship[11] Euroformula Open[12] |
None as Red Bull Junior Team member |
 Ayumu Iwasa[13]
|
2021– | FIA Formula 3 Championship[11] F3 Asian Championship[14] |
None as Red Bull Junior Team member |
 Isack Hadjar[15]
|
from 2022 | Formula Regional European Championship F3 Asian Championship |
None as Red Bull Junior Team member |
| Driver | Years | Current Series | Titles as Red Bull Junior |
|---|---|---|---|
 Jack Doohan[17]
|
2018– | FIA Formula 3 Championship[18] | None as Red Bull Junior Team member |
 Dennis Hauger[19]
|
2018– | FIA Formula 3 Championship[20] | Italian F4 Championship FIA Formula 3 Championship |
| Arvid Lindblad[13]
|
2021– | Karting (OK) | None as Red Bull Junior Team member |
| Hiroki Otsu[21]
|
2021– | Super Formula Championship | None as Red Bull Junior Team member |
Graduates to Red Bull Racing
- Championship titles highlighted in bold.
- ^ Vettel is contracted to Aston Martin for the 2021 season
- ^ Ricciardo is contracted to McLaren for the 2021 season
- ^ a b c d Max Verstappen was promoted to Red Bull Racing mid-season following the Russian Grand Prix, replacing Daniil Kvyat who was demoted back to Scuderia Toro Rosso
- ^ a b c d Alexander Albon was promoted to Red Bull Racing mid-season following the Hungarian Grand Prix, replacing Pierre Gasly who was demoted back to Scuderia Toro Rosso
Graduates to Toro Rosso/AlphaTauri
This list includes drivers who have graduated from the Junior Team to Toro Rosso/AlphaTauri but have not raced for Red Bull Racing. Former Red Bull Junior Team drivers who have driven for Toro Rosso/AlphaTauri and Red Bull Racing appear on the Graduates to Red Bull Racing table.
- Championship titles highlighted in bold.
Former drivers
_in_practice_at_USGP_2005.jpg)
- Championship titles highlighted in bold.
Graduates summary
 | This section needs to be updated. (August 2021) |
The scheme has been successful, with several of the drivers backed by Red Bull making it into Formula One:
- Enrique Bernoldi – raced for Arrows and was briefly a test driver for British American Racing.
- Robert Doornbos – raced for Minardi and Red Bull Racing.
- Patrick Friesacher – raced for Minardi.
- Narain Karthikeyan – raced for Jordan and HRT and was a test driver for Williams.
- Christian Klien – raced for Jaguar Racing and Red Bull Racing, and was a test driver for HRT F1 Team.
- Vitantonio Liuzzi – raced for Red Bull Racing, Scuderia Toro Rosso and Force India, at one stage attracted the attention of Ferrari after dominant performances in Formula 3000, raced for the HRT F1 Team before being replaced ahead of the 2012 season.
- Sebastian Vettel – formerly a Red Bull Racing driver, race winner, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 Formula One World Drivers' Champion, he replaced David Coulthard at Red Bull for the 2009 season. Left for Ferrari at the end of the 2014 season. He had been a test driver for BMW Sauber, and raced for Carlin Motorsport in the World Series by Renault in 2007.
- Scott Speed – raced for Scuderia Toro Rosso in 2006 and 2007. Raced the No. 82 Red Bull Racing Team Toyota Camry in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series before being released by Red Bull after the 2010 season. Speed currently races in Global Rallycross for Andretti Autosport, where he is 3–time and reigning champion.
- Daniel Ricciardo – reserve driver for Red Bull Racing and winner of the 2009 British Formula 3 season with Carlin Motorsport before being placed at HRT in 2011 and joining Toro Rosso in 2012. Signed up to replace Mark Webber at Red Bull for the 2014 season, taking three victories and finishing 3rd in the championship standings. Left for Renault at the end of the 2018 season.
- Jean-Éric Vergne – joined Toro Rosso for the 2012 season after finishing second in the 2011 Formula Renault 3.5 Series season. Left the programme to become a test driver at Ferrari.
- Daniil Kvyat – joined Toro Rosso for the 2014 season after claiming the GP3 title the previous year. Signed up to replace Sebastian Vettel at Red Bull for the 2015 season. Demoted to Scuderia Toro Rosso after the 2016 Russian GP. Replaced with Max Verstappen. Replaced by Pierre Gasly for the 2018 season and joined Ferrari as test and reserve driver. Rejoined Toro Rosso for the 2019 season.
- Carlos Sainz Jr. – joined Toro Rosso for the 2015 season after claiming the Formula Renault 3.5 title the previous year. Moved to Renault after the 2017 Japanese GP. Joined McLaren for the 2019 season.
- Max Verstappen – joined Toro Rosso and the Red Bull programme for the 2015 season after finishing third in the 2014 FIA Formula 3 European Championship. Promoted to Red Bull Racing for the 2016 Spanish GP, which he won on debut.
- Pierre Gasly – debuted for Toro Rosso in the 2017 Malaysian GP after winning the 2016 GP2 Series. Joined Toro Rosso full time for the 2018 season. Promoted to Red Bull Racing for the 2019 season to replace Daniel Ricciardo. Demoted to Toro Rosso after the 2019 Hungarian GP.
- Brendon Hartley – joined Toro Rosso for the 2017 United States GP after winning the 2017 FIA World Endurance Championship.
- Alexander Albon – joined Toro Rosso for the 2019 season after finishing third in the 2018 FIA Formula 2 Championship. Promoted to Red Bull Racing after the 2019 Hungarian GP, contract not renewed for 2021. Became a Red Bull test driver and joined their 2021 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters team.
As well as these, Red Bull has supported many up-and-coming young drivers:
- Jaime Alguersuari – raced for Scuderia Toro Rosso, substituted Sébastien Bourdais for the second half of the 2009 season before being replaced at the end of the 2011 season; he won British F3 in 2008 and raced in the World Series by Renault.
- Mikhail Aleshin – raced in the World Series by Renault with Carlin Motorsport
- Michael Ammermüller – raced in the GP2 Series with ART.
- Sébastien Buemi – raced for Scuderia Toro Rosso from 2009 to 2011; he has participated in the GP2 Series Asia and GP2 Series for Trust Team Arden and in A1 Grand Prix with A1 Team Switzerland, as back–up to fellow Red Bull Junior Team driver Jani.
- Colin Fleming – raced in the World Series by Renault with Carlin Motorsport.
- Neel Jani – a test driver for Sauber, Red Bull Racing, and now Toro Rosso, whilst also representing Switzerland in A1 Grand Prix.
- Adrian Zaugg – raced in World Series by Renault for Carlin Motorsport for a part–season as well in A1 Grand Prix for South Africa.
In 2004 Red Bull bought Jaguar Racing and renamed the team Red Bull Racing for the 2005 season.
Red Bull Driver Search
Red Bull Driver Search was an American scheme run from 2002 to 2005 in parallel with the Red Bull Junior Team. Its aim was "Searching for the future American F1 Champion".[30] Another goal was to create "the first ever All–American Formula 1 team."
There has been one clear star of Red Bull Driver Search: Scott Speed. After being one of four winners of the 2002 Red Bull Driver Search,[31] Speed went on to compete in British Formula 3, before winning the German and Eurocup Formula Renault Championships. In 2005, Speed impressed onlookers with his performances in the GP2 Series and, after a short stint in A1 Grand Prix for A1 Team USA, Speed drove for Scuderia Toro Rosso in Formula One in the 2006 and 2007 seasons.
Red Bull Driver Search formally concluded on 17 October 2005.[32] Part of the reason it concluded is because Speed successfully made it to Formula One.[33]
Results
Formula 3000
| International Formula 3000 Championship Results[34] | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Car | Drivers | Races | Wins | Poles | Fast laps | Points | D.C. | T.C. |
| 1999 | Lola-Zytek |  Enrique Bernoldi
|
10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 18th | ? |
 Markus Friesacher
|
3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC | |||
| Ricardo Mauricio
|
7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 22nd | |||
| 2000 | Lola-Zytek | Ricardo Mauricio
|
10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 17th | 9th |
| Enrique Bernoldi
|
10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 16th | |||
| 2001 | Lola-Zytek | Patrick Friesacher
|
12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 13th | 5th |
 Antonio García
|
4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC | |||
| Ricardo Mauricio
|
8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 8th | |||
| 2002 | Lola-Zytek | Patrick Friesacher
|
12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 10th | 5th |
| Ricardo Mauricio
|
12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 11th | |||
| 2003 | Lola-Zytek |  Vitantonio Liuzzi
|
10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 39 | 4th | 2nd |
| Patrick Friesacher
|
8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 36 | 5th | |||
| Bernhard Auinger
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC | |||
- D.C. = Drivers' Championship position, T.C. = Teams' Championship position.
Notes
See also
References
- ^ Allen, Peter (12 November 2018). "Juri Vips joins Red Bull Junior Team ahead of Macau Grand Prix". FormulaScout. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
- ^ Smith, Luke (11 December 2020). "Red Bull junior Vips to race in Formula 2 next year". Autosport.com. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
- ^ a b "Hitech sign Red Bull juniors Lawson and Vips for 2021". FIA_F2® - The Official F2® Website. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ "Carlin sign Red Bull junior Edgar for 2021". FIAFormula3® - The Official F3® Website. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ "Red Bull recruits Liam Lawson as junior". 18 February 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
- ^ Wood, Elliot (4 January 2021). "Lawson to race alongside Albon for Red Bull DTM entry in 2021". Formula Scout. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
- ^ "The Red Bull Junior Team welcomes Jehan Daruvala". 20 February 2020. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
- ^ "Carlin retain Daruvala for 2021". FIA_F2® - The Official F2® Website. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ Thukral, Rachit (11 January 2021). "Jehan Daruvala set to race in F3 Asia ahead of F2 season". www.motorsport.com. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
- ^ "RED BULL JUNIOR TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT 2020 - NO STOPPING THE JUNIORS RACING AND WINNING INTO A NEW SEASON". 28 January 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
- ^ a b "Hitech snap up Red Bull junior duo Crawford and Iwasa". FIAFormula3® - The Official F3® Website. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ Wood, Elliot (18 March 2021). "FIA F3-bound Red Bull junior Jak Crawford adds Euroformula campaign". Formula Scout. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
- ^ a b Maher, Thomas (15 January 2021). "Honda-backed Ayumu Iwasa joins Red Bull Junior Academy". Formula Spy. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ Wood, Elliot (15 January 2021). "New Red Bull junior Ayumu Iwasa to race in Asian and FIA F3 for Hitech". Formula Scout. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ "FRECA - EXCLU AUTOhebdo : Isack Hadjar rejoint le Red Bull Junior Team". www.autohebdo.fr. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
- ^ Allen, Peter (15 January 2021). "Edgar and Crawford step up to FIA F3 with Carlin and Hitech". Formula Scout. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ www.redbull.com https://www.redbull.com/int-en/juniorteam/drivers/athlete-profile-jack-doohan. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ Howard, Tom (16 February 2021). "Trident signs Red Bull junior Jack Doohan to F3 squad". www.motorsport.com. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
- ^ "Dennis Hauger". Red Bull. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
- ^ Mackley, Stefan (28 December 2020). "Red Bull junior Hauger moves to Prema for 2021 F3 campaign". www.motorsport.com. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
- ^ "Super Formula: Hiroki Otsu feels pressure of Red Bull livery". www.motorsport.com. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
- ^ "Carlos Sainz to race for Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow in 2021 and 2022". ferrari.com. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
- ^ Allen, Peter (27 March 2013). "Beitske Visser joins Red Bull Junior Team". paddockscout.com. Paddock Scout. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
- ^ "Red Bull Junior to Carlin for FIA F3". Carlin. 12 February 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
- ^ Hensby, Paul (12 February 2015). "Briton Stoneman joins Red Bull Stable". thecheckeredflag.co.uk. The Checkered Flag. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
- ^ a b "Red Bull adds Ticktum, Verhagen to junior roster". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
- ^ Nimmervoll, Christian (13 December 2019). "Auer, Red Bull split after single year in Super Formula". motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
- ^ "Patricio O'Ward joins Red Bull Junior Team for IndyCar campaign". 9 May 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
- ^ "O'Ward splits with Red Bull – and enters the McLaren IndyCar frame". 20 October 2019. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 June 2006. Retrieved 21 July 2008.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Red Bull Driver Search (official website), 2002 History. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 12 August 2007. Retrieved 21 July 2008.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Red Bull Driver Search". web.archive.org. 21 February 2006.
- ^ Red Bull Racing Driver Search, Program Explanation, "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 15 June 2008. Retrieved 21 July 2008.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ GP2 and Formula 3000 entry list and complete results speedsportmag.com