What is the Red Bull Junior Team? A look at Marko’s F1 legacy

A part of his remit was managing the younger driver programme for the Crimson Bull operation, signing racers at a younger age within the hope that they’d finally attain F1 – or different world championships. 

It’s actually one of many extra controversial driver academies contemplating its ruthless nature – Marko has been identified to rapidly launch people – however nearly half of the F1 2025 grid got here from the Crimson Bull Junior Group.

It is actually profitable in its personal proper, and lots of that may be put right down to Marko, so right here is all to know concerning the Crimson Bull driver academy. 

What’s the Crimson Bull Junior Group?

The Crimson Bull Junior Group is a driver improvement programme operated by Austrian conglomerate Crimson Bull GmbH, finest identified for its power drinks model.

It was formally based in 2001 with the intention of signing and growing younger racing drivers, in order that they’re able to establishing profitable careers throughout the trade. 

This entails Crimson Bull figuring out drivers from Components 2 proper right down to karting to fund and help their development by the open-wheel ranks with aspirations of finally attending to F1.

Sebastian Vettel, BMW Sauber Third Driver

Photograph by: Sutton Photos

It was not a stellar debut 12 months for Crimson Bull because it completed seventh within the championship, however the next season noticed the corporate increase its presence on the grid.

That’s as a result of Crimson Bull purchased the uncompetitive Minardi, an Italian squad that had been in F1 from 1985 to 2005. The corporate rebranded the staff as Toro Rosso – which is ‘Crimson Bull’ in Italian – to function Crimson Bull’s junior squad in F1.

So, at any time when a Crimson Bull junior driver has made their F1 debut, it has often include the Faenza-based squad through which a promotion to the ‘A’ staff then occurs in the event that they impress.

Race winner Sebastian Vettel, Toro Rosso

Photograph by: Sutton Photos

However not each Crimson Bull junior will attain F1, as many graduates of the programme are contesting different types of motorsport whether or not it’s the World Endurance Championship, IndyCar and even DTM. 

Which F1 drivers have graduated from the Crimson Bull Junior Group?

Arvid Lindblad will turn out to be the 18th F1 driver to have graduated from the Crimson Bull junior system when he makes his collection debut in 2026.

The Austrian outfit subsequently has a protracted historical past of signing drivers from its sister squad, with Vettel the primary to make that leap in 2009 shortly after profitable the 2008 Italian Grand Prix.

Daniel Ricciardo, Crimson Bull Racing RB10

Photograph by: Daniel Kalisz

Given Vettel and Verstappen have every claimed 4 F1 world championships with Crimson Bull, whereas Ricciardo gained seven grands prix with the staff, the programme has many success tales. 

However it is usually a really cut-throat programme. Ought to a driver not instantly carry out effectively, their future throughout the system comes below menace.

They don’t seem to be the one examples of Crimson Bull being fast to drag the set off although, as 2025 witnessed maybe probably the most excessive instance but. Lawson began the 12 months as Verstappen’s team-mate, however he was demoted again to Racing Bulls following two race weekends the place he failed to attain a degree.

Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing, Liam Lawson, Crimson Bull Racing

Photograph by: Crimson Bull Content material Pool

Elsewhere, Crimson Bull graduate Sebastien Buemi has turn out to be a four-time WEC champion after his three-year stint with Toro Rosso. Ayumu Iwasa, in the meantime, is a Crimson Bull junior who turned the 2025 Tremendous Components champion, whereas IndyCar’s Callum Ilott spent 2015 within the programme – but neither have began a grand prix.

Nonetheless, his prior staff Racing Level opted to switch him with Vettel for 2021, which means Perez was with no drive regardless of ending a then career-equalling better of fourth within the championship.

So, contemplating Albon’s struggles, Crimson Bull swiftly signed the free agent Perez shortly after the 2020 Abu Dhabi finale provided that on the time it didn’t have any junior drivers able to changing the Thai-Briton.

Nyck de Vries, AlphaTauri AT04

Photograph by: Erik Junius

All F1 graduates from the Crimson Bull Junior Group

Who’re the present drivers within the Crimson Bull Junior Group?

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