TheRed Bull Junior Team,commonly referred to as theRed Bull Driver Academy,is adriver development programmerun by the conglomerate companyRed Bull GmbHin an attempt to identify potential future racing stars inopen wheel racing.The similarRed Bull Driver Search,now ended, was an American spinoff of the same idea held in 2005. Members of the Junior Team are financed and sponsored by Red Bull in lower racing formulae.
 | |
| Founded | 2001 |
|---|---|
| Base | Milton Keynes,England, UK |
| Teamprincipal(s) | Helmut Marko |
| Current drivers | Super Formula Ayumu IwasaFIA Formula 2  Isack Hadjar Pepe Martí Oliver GoetheFIA Formula 3  Arvid Lindblad Nikola TsolovTim TramnitzFR European Championship Enzo DelignySpanish F4  James Egozi Enzo Tarnvanichkul Ernesto RiveraFrench F4 Jules CarantaKarting  Fionn McLaughlin Scott Lindblom Rocco Coronel Christopher Feghali |
| Website | https://www.redbull.com/int-en/juniorteam |
The programs have been successful in bringing a selection of drivers intoFormula One.Five of them,Sebastian Vettel,Daniel Ricciardo,Max Verstappen,Pierre Gasly,andCarlos Sainz Jr.have won a Formula One race, with two of them (Vettel and Verstappen) having won at least threeWorld Championships.Red Bull owns two teams in Formula One,Red Bull RacingandRB.
TheRed Bull Junior Teamwas also the name ofRSM Marko,a team that competed inInternational Formula 3000between 1999 and 2003, sponsored by Red Bull and run byHelmut 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 Klienbecame the first Red Bull Junior to race in Formula One, while in 2008,Sebastian Vettelbecame the first Red Bull Junior to win a Formula One Grand Prix, theItalian Grand Prix.Two years later, in2010,Vettel became the first Red Bull Junior graduate to win the Formula One World Championship.
In 2024, Red Bull formed a separate programme, called theRed BullFordAcademy Programme,to support the team'sF1 Academydrivers.
Current drivers
edit| Driver | Years | Current Series | Titles as Red Bull Junior |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ayumu Iwasa[1][a]
|
2021– | Super Formula Championship | None as Red Bull Junior Team member |
| Arvid Lindblad[1]
|
2021– | Formula Regional Middle East Championship FIA Formula 3 Championship |
WSK Euro Series- OK WSK Final Cup- OK Macau Formula 4 Race |
| Isack Hadjar[2]
|
2022– | FIA Formula 2 Championship | None as Red Bull Junior Team member |
| Enzo Deligny[3]
|
2023– | Formula 4 UAE Championship Formula Regional European Championship |
None as Red Bull Junior Team member |
| Enzo Tarnvanichkul[3]
|
2023– | Formula Winter Series F4 Spanish Championship |
None as Red Bull Junior Team member |
| Pepe Martí[4]
|
2023– | FIA Formula 2 Championship | None as Red Bull Junior Team member |
| Tim Tramnitz[5]
|
2023– | FIA Formula 3 Championship | None as Red Bull Junior Team member |
| Oliver Goethe[6]
|
2023– | Middle East Trophy FIA Formula 3 Championship FIA Formula 2 Champsionship |
None as Red Bull Junior Team member |
| James Egozi[7]
|
2024– | Formula Winter Series F4 Spanish Championship |
None as Red Bull Junior Team member |
| Fionn McLaughlin[8]
|
2024– | Karting (OK) | None as Red Bull Junior Team member |
| Scott Lindblom[8]
|
2024– | Karting (OK) | None as Red Bull Junior Team member |
| Ernesto Rivera[9]
|
2024– | Formula Winter Series F4 Spanish Championship |
None as Red Bull Junior Team member |
| Jules Caranta[9]
|
2024– | Formula 4 UAE Championship French F4 Championship |
None as Red Bull Junior Team member |
| Rocco Coronel[9]
|
2024– | Karting (OK) | None as Red Bull Junior Team member |
| Christopher Feghali[9]
|
2024– | Karting (OK) | None as Red Bull Junior Team member |
| Nikola Tsolov[10]
|
2025– | FIA Formula 3 Championship Eurocup-3 |
None as Red Bull Junior Team member |
 Niklas Schaufler[11]
|
2025– | Karting (OK) | None as Red Bull Junior Team member |
- ^Driver is also a member of theHonda Formula Dream Project
Graduates to Red Bull Racing in Formula 1
edit
- Championship titles highlighted inbold.
- † denotes currently active Formula 1 drivers.
- ^abcdMax Verstappenwas promoted toRed Bull Racingmid-season following theRussian Grand Prix,replacingDaniil Kvyatwho was demoted back toScuderia Toro Rosso
- ^abcdAlexander Albonwas promoted toRed Bull Racingmid-season following theHungarian Grand Prix,replacingPierre Gaslywho was demoted back toScuderia Toro Rosso
Graduates to Toro Rosso/AlphaTauri/RB
editThis list includes drivers who have graduated from the Junior Team to Toro Rosso/AlphaTauri/RB but have not raced for Red Bull Racing. Former Red Bull Junior Team drivers who have driven for Toro Rosso/AlphaTauri/RB and Red Bull Racing appear on the Graduates to Red Bull Racing table.
- Championship titles highlighted inbold.
- † denotes currently active Formula 1 drivers.
Former drivers
edit
- Championship titles highlighted inbold.
Graduates summary
editThis section needs to beupdated.(August 2021) |
The scheme has been successful, with several of the drivers backed by Red Bull making it into Formula One:
- Enrique Bernoldi– raced forArrowsand was briefly a test driver forBritish American Racing.
- Christian Klien– raced forJaguar RacingandRed Bull Racing,and was a test driver forHRT F1 Team.
- Patrick Friesacher– raced forMinardi.
- Narain Karthikeyan– raced forJordanandHRTand was a test driver forWilliams.
- Robert Doornbos– raced forMinardiandRed Bull Racing.
- Vitantonio Liuzzi– raced forRed Bull Racing,Scuderia Toro RossoandForce India,at one stage attracted the attention ofFerrariafter dominant performances inFormula 3000,raced for theHRT F1 Teambefore being replaced ahead of the2012season.
- Scott Speed– raced forScuderia Toro Rossoin 2006 and 2007. Raced the No. 82Red Bull Racing TeamToyota Camryin theNASCARSprint Cup Seriesbefore being released by Red Bull after the2010 season.Speed currently races inGlobal RallycrossforAndretti Autosport,where he is 3–time and reigning champion.
- Sebastian Vettel– joined Toro Rosso for the second half of the2007season inScott Speed's place, replacedDavid CoulthardatRed Bull Racingfor the2009season. Became the2010,2011,2012and2013Formula One World Drivers' Champion, and left forFerrariat the end of the2014season. He had been a test driver forBMW Sauber.
- Sébastien Buemi– raced for Scuderia Toro Rosso from 2009 to 2011. He had participated in theGP2 Series AsiaandGP2 Seriesfor Trust Team Arden and inA1 Grand PrixwithA1 Team Switzerland,as back–up to fellow Red Bull Junior Team driver Jani.
- Jaime Alguersuari– raced for Scuderia Toro Rosso, substituted forSébastien Bourdaisfor the second half of the2009season before being replaced at the end of the 2011 season. He had wonBritish F3in2008and raced in theWorld Series by Renaultin2009.In 2015 he retired from motorsport and is now a DJ.
- Karun Chandhok– raced forHispania RacingandTeam Lotus,and was a heritage driver forWilliams.
- Daniel Ricciardo– reserve driver forRed Bull Racingand winner of the2009 British Formula 3 seasonwithCarlin Motorsportbefore being placed atHRTin2011and joining Toro Rosso in2012.Signed up to replace Mark Webber at Red Bull for the 2014 season, taking three victories and finishing 3rd in the championship standings. Left forRenaultat the end of the2018 season.RejoinedScuderia AlphaTauriin 2023 after the firing ofNyck De Vries.
- Jean-Éric Vergne– joined Toro Rosso for the 2012 season after finishing second in the2011 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 theGP3title the previous year. Signed up to replaceSebastian VettelatRed Bullfor the 2015 season. Demoted to Scuderia Toro Rosso after the 2016 Russian GP, replaced withMax Verstappen.Replaced byPierre Gaslyat Toro Rosso for the2018season, joinedFerrarias test and reserve driver. Rejoined Toro Rosso for the 2019 season before being replaced again at the end of 2020.
- Carlos Sainz Jr.– joined Toro Rosso for the 2015 season after claiming theFormula Renault 3.5title the previous year. Moved toRenaultafter the 2017 Japanese GP. JoinedMcLarenfor the2019 season.Then joinedFerrarifor the 2021 season, where he scored one win at the2022 British Grand Prix.
- Max Verstappen– joined Toro Rosso for 2015 after finishing third in the2014 FIA Formula 3 European Championship,having been signed to the Red Bull programme midway through that season. Promoted to Red Bull Racing for the 2016 Spanish GP, which he won on debut. Became2021,2022,and2023Formula One World Drivers' Champion with Red Bull.
- Pierre Gasly– debuted for Toro Rosso in the2017 Malaysian GPafter winning the2016 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 the2017 United States GPafter winning the2017 FIA World Endurance Championship.Continued with the team the following year before being replaced by Alexander Albon for 2019.
- Alexander Albon– re-signed by Red Bull ahead of the 2019 season to race for Toro Rosso after finishing third in the2018 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 their2021 Deutsche Tourenwagen Mastersteam. Returned to Formula One in 2022 withWilliams.
- Yuki Tsunoda– joined rebrandedScuderia AlphaTauriteam for the 2021 season after coming third in Formula 2 the previous year.
As well as these, Red Bull has supported many up-and-coming young drivers:
- Neel Jani– a test driver forSauber,Red Bull Racing,and laterToro Rosso,whilst also representingSwitzerlandinA1 Grand Prix.
- Colin Fleming– raced in theWorld Series by RenaultwithCarlin Motorsport.
- Michael Ammermüller– raced in theGP2 SerieswithART.
- Mikhail Aleshin– raced in theWorld Series by RenaultwithCarlin Motorsport.
- Adrian Zaugg– raced inWorld Series by RenaultforCarlin Motorsportfor a part–season as well inA1 Grand PrixforSouth Africa.
- Filipe Albuquerque– raced in theWorld Series by RenaultwithEpsilon Euskadi.
- Robert Wickens– raced in theWorld Series by RenaultwithCarlin Motorsport.
- António Félix da Costa– finished third in the2012 GP3 SerieswithCarlinand the2013 Formula Renault 3.5 SerieswithArdenCaterham.
- Alex Lynn– won the GP3 Series in2014forCarlin.
- Sérgio Sette Câmara– competed in the2016 FIA Formula 3 European ChampionshipforMotopark.Progressed into Formula 2 without Red Bull's support and was re-signed in 2020 as a test driver forRed Bull RacingandScuderia AlphaTauri.
- Dan Ticktum– raced part-time in theSuper Formula Championshipin 2018 and 2019 forTeam Mugen.
American spin-off
editRed Bull Driver Search was an American spin-off run from 2002 to 2005 in parallel with the Red Bull Junior Team. Its aim was "Searching for the future American F1 Champion". The winner wasScott Speed,who went on to compete in F1 in 2005 as a test driver for Red Bull.[citation needed]
Red Bull Academy Programme
editIn 2024, Red Bull set up theRed BullFordAcademy Programmeto support the team'sF1 Academydrivers.[35][36]F1 Academy was founded by Formula One as a racing series aimed at developing and preparing young female drivers to progress to higher levels of competition.[37]
| Driver | Years | F1 Academy titles as Red Bull Academy Programme member |
|---|---|---|
 Amna Al Qubaisi
|
2024 | None as Red Bull Academy Programme member |
| Hamda Al Qubaisi[38]
|
2024 | None as Red Bull Academy Programme member |
| Emely de Heus[39]
|
2024 | None as Red Bull Academy Programme member |
| Chloe Chambers[40]
|
2025 | None as Red Bull Academy Programme member |
 Rafaela Ferreira[41]
|
2025 | None as Red Bull Academy Programme member |
| Sources:[42] | ||
Results
editFormula 3000
edit| International Formula 3000 ChampionshipResults[43] | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Car | Drivers | Races | Wins | Poles | Fast laps | Points | D.C. | T.C. |
| 1999 | Lola B99/50-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 B99/50-Zytek | Ricardo Mauricio
|
10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 17th | 9th |
| Enrique Bernoldi
|
10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 16th | |||
| 2001 | Lola B99/50-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 B02/50-Zytek | Patrick Friesacher
|
12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 10th | 5th |
| Ricardo Mauricio
|
12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 11th | |||
| 2003 | Lola B02/50-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.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^abMaher, Thomas (15 January 2021)."Honda-backed Ayumu Iwasa joins Red Bull Junior Academy".Formula Spy.Retrieved15 January2021.
- ^"FRECA - EXCLU AUTOhebdo: Isack Hadjar rejoint le Red Bull Junior Team".www.autohebdo.fr.Retrieved16 June2021.
- ^abcd"Red Bull Junior Team announces 2023 line-up, F3 standouts move to F2".Autosport.Retrieved18 January2023.
- ^"Josep María Martí joins Red Bull Junior Team".FIAFormula3® - The Official F3® Website.31 August 2023.Retrieved31 August2023.
- ^@redbulljuniorteam (12 October 2023)."Hello @tim_tramnitz 👋 We're excited to welcome Tim to the roster of promising young talents. Wishing him the best of luck this weekend in Zandvoort for Round 9 of #FRECA #RedBullJuniorTeam #GivesYouWings"– viaInstagram.
- ^@feeder_series (13 November 2023)."Oliver Goethe joins the Red Bull Junior Team!".twitter.com.Retrieved13 November2023.
- ^Wood, Ida (3 March 2024)."James Egozi gets FWinter Series win, Spanish F4 seat and RBJT spot".Formula Scout.Retrieved3 March2024.
- ^ab"Red Bull signs karters Scott Lindblom and Fionn McLaughlin as juniors".Formula Scout.7 August 2024.Retrieved9 August2024.
- ^abcd"Red Bull picks four more junior signings after driver search shootout".Formula Scout.11 September 2024.Retrieved11 September2024.
- ^Red Bull add Niklas Schaufler and Nikola Tsolov to junior team for 2025
- ^Wood, Ida (6 November 2024)."Red Bull add Niklas Schaufler and Nikola Tsolov to junior team for 2025".Formula Scout.Retrieved6 November2024.
- ^"Carlos Sainz to race for Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow in 2021 and 2022".ferrari.com.Retrieved14 May2020.
- ^"Federico Montoya in german Formula BMW".www.italiaracing.net(in Italian).Retrieved6 April2024.
- ^"Who are the 2005 Red Bull drivers and where they will race".www.italiaracing.net(in Italian).Retrieved6 April2024.
- ^Allen, Peter (27 March 2013)."Beitske Visser joins Red Bull Junior Team".paddockscout.com.Paddock Scout.Retrieved27 March2013.
- ^"Red Bull Junior to Carlin for FIA F3".Carlin.12 February 2015. Archived fromthe originalon 14 October 2020.Retrieved12 February2015.
- ^Hensby, Paul (12 February 2015)."Briton Stoneman joins Red Bull Stable".thecheckeredflag.co.uk.The Checkered Flag.Retrieved12 February2015.
- ^ab"Red Bull adds Ticktum, Verhagen to junior roster".Motorsport.com.Retrieved18 January2017.
- ^"Jack Doohan - Red Bull Junior Team Athlete Profile".www.redbull.com.Retrieved1 April2021.
- ^Van Vliet, Pierre (24 September 2017)."Red Bull selects its lucky juniors".F1i.com.Retrieved29 December2020.
- ^Chokhani, Darshan (12 November 2018)."Juri Vips joins Red Bull Junior Team for Macau GP alongside Ticktum".FormulaRapida.net.Retrieved23 May2022.
- ^"Dennis Hauger".Red Bull.Retrieved1 April2021.
- ^Allen, Peter (22 October 2023)."Hauger to split from Red Bull but return to F2 in 2024".Formula Scout.Retrieved22 October2023.
- ^Nimmervoll, Christian (13 December 2019)."Auer, Red Bull split after single year in Super Formula".motorsport.com.Motorsport Network.Retrieved13 December2019.
- ^"Patricio O'Ward joins Red Bull Junior Team for IndyCar campaign".9 May 2019.Retrieved9 May2019.
- ^"O'Ward splits with Red Bull – and enters the McLaren IndyCar frame".20 October 2019.Retrieved20 October2019.
- ^"The Red Bull Junior Team welcomes Jehan Daruvala".20 February 2020.Retrieved21 February2020.
- ^"RED BULL JUNIOR TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT 2020 - NO STOPPING THE JUNIORS RACING AND WINNING INTO A NEW SEASON".28 January 2019.Retrieved28 January2019.
- ^Wood, Ida (16 November 2023)."Jak Crawford to leave Red Bull Junior Team but stay in F2 for 2024".Formula Scout.Retrieved16 November2023.
- ^"Team Goh gets Red Bull backing for first Super Formula season".motorsport.com.Retrieved26 February2022.
- ^Klein, Jamie."Super Formula: Ren Sato not giving up on overseas dream".www.motorsport.com.Retrieved10 January2023.
- ^"Enzo Fittipaldi joins Red Bull programme for Carlin F2 move".motorsport.com.Retrieved13 November2022.
- ^abHarden, Oliver (16 October 2023)."Red Bull junior academy set for big shake-up with three drivers at risk".PlanetF1.Retrieved16 October2023.
- ^Łukasz Kuczera (8 November 2023)."Red Bull postawił na polski talent! Nadzieje na karierę w F1 wzrosły".wp.pl(in Polish).Retrieved10 November2023.
- ^"F1 Academy".Red Bull Racing.Archivedfrom the original on 15 March 2024.Retrieved15 March2024.
- ^Cooper, Adam (7 March 2024)."Ford F1 Academy deal shows support for Red Bull".Motorsport.com.Retrieved9 March2024.
- ^"F1 Academy: Formula 1 announces F1 Academy, a new all-female driver series for 2023".Formula 1.18 November 2022.Retrieved15 March2024.
- ^Oracle Red Bull Racing (8 March 2024)."Oracle Red Bull Racing and Pepe Jeans London announce a debut ready-to-wear collection for Summer 2024".Red Bull Racing.Retrieved16 March2024.
- ^Cooper, Adam (7 March 2024)."Ford F1 Academy deal shows support for Red Bull".Motorsport.com.Retrieved9 March2024.
- ^James, Richard S. (2 October 2024)."Chambers joins Red Bull for F1 Academy".RACER.com.Retrieved2 October2024.
- ^"VCARB teams up with Rafaela Ferreira".RB Formula One Team.30 October 2024.Retrieved30 October2024.
- ^Collantine, Keith (2 February 2024)."Red Bull's two F1 teams back trio of drivers in F1 Academy".RaceFans.Retrieved2 February2024.
- ^GP2 and Formula 3000 entry list and complete resultsArchived19 January 2008 at theWayback Machinespeedsportmag.com