Where did each Red Bull F1 driver finish on their team debut?

Yuki Tsunoda is about to turn into the 14th driver to begin a System 1 grand prix for Purple Bull when he competes for the group at Suzuka on the 6 April.

It will likely be the third spherical of the 2025 F1 season and he’ll change Liam Lawson as Max Verstappen’s team-mate after a point-less begin for the New Zealander.

So there shall be immense stress on Tsunoda to carry out higher than the person he’s changing, particularly when Lawson initially pipped the Japanese driver to the Purple Bull promotion for 2025.

However, how did all of his predecessors carry out on their Purple Bull debut starting with those that competed for the squad in its maiden season in 2005?

David Coulthard: Fourth on the 2005 Australian Grand Prix

David Coulthard

Photograph by: Purple Bull Racing

David Coulthard was a significant coup for Purple Bull when it signed the 13-time grand prix winner forward of its F1 debut. Coulthard put his decade of F1 expertise to good use by ending fourth on the group’s first race in Melbourne having began the grand prix in fifth.

He may have achieved extra although, as Coulthard climbed as much as third at race begin, however then the tempo of Fernando Alonso’s Renault paid dividends and that yr’s eventual world champion pipped him to the ultimate podium place.

Christian Klien: Seventh on the 2005 Australian Grand Prix

Christian Klien

Photograph by: Purple Bull Racing

It was a double factors outing for Purple Bull on its F1 debut, as Christian Klien completed the 2005 Australian Grand Prix in seventh, one place decrease than the place he began. However that was one of some highlights for the Austrian that season, as he claimed simply three extra factors finishes whereas sharing the seat with Vitantonio Liuzzi.

Vitantonio Liuzzi: Eighth on the 2005 San Marino Grand Prix

Vitantonio Liuzzi

Photograph by: XPB Photographs

Liuzzi got here into the Purple Bull fold for the fourth grand prix of the season at Imola, as a part of a deal that may see initially himself and Klien alternate races. However, resulting from poor kind, Liuzzi solely lasted 4 rounds along with his finest exhibiting approaching his debut, because the Italian completed eighth on the 2005 San Marino Grand Prix which earned him some extent. 

Robert Doornbos: twelfth on the 2006 Chinese language Grand Prix

Robert Doornbos

Photograph by: Purple Bull GmbH and GEPA photos GmbH

Robert Doornbos began the 2006 season as a take a look at driver for Purple Bull, however he lastly acquired his shot on the ultimate three grands prix of the yr after Klien was dropped. The Dutchman’s first race got here in Shanghai, the place he impressively reached Q3 to outqualify Coulthard however the pleasure was quick lived, as Doornbos dropped from tenth to twelfth within the race and was a lap down on winner Michael Schumacher.

Mark Webber: thirteenth on the 2007 Australian Grand Prix

Mark Webber, Purple Bull Racing RB3-Renault

Photograph by: John Marsh / Motorsport Photographs

Mark Webber changed Doornbos for the 2007 season, as the previous Williams driver was signed to associate Coulthard as a part of a extremely skilled line-up for the group. Webber’s debut got here at his dwelling race in Melbourne, the place he additionally impressed in qualifying by reaching Q3 whereas Coulthard was eradicated from the opening session. However, the Purple Bull struggled for race tempo as Webber dropped to thirteenth the next day.

Sebastian Vettel: DNF on the 2009 Australian Grand Prix

Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber F1.09, Sebastian Vettel, Purple Bull Racing RB5 Renault

Photograph by: Scott Wensley

What made Sebastian Vettel such a singular case was the truth that he had already gained a race with Purple Bull’s sister group – Toro Rosso on the 2008 Italian Grand Prix – earlier than he acquired a shot on the main group.

Everyone knew he was a particular expertise, however his ending place on his Purple Bull debut doesn’t mirror how he ran. Vettel certified in third and was aggressive all through the day, however collided with BMW-Sauber’s Robert Kubica forcing each to retire late on.

Daniel Ricciardo: DSQ from the 2014 Australian Grand Prix

Daniel Ricciardo, Purple Bull Racing, 2nd Place, on the rostrum along with his trophy and champagne

Photograph by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Photographs

Daniel Ricciardo had a really bittersweet debut for Purple Bull which, like Webber, got here at his dwelling race in Australia. Ricciardo began it by outqualifying his four-time world champion team-mate Vettel having put his RB10 on the entrance row alongside pole sitter Lewis Hamilton.

The then 25-year-old carried that kind into the race to ultimately cross the road in second behind Hamilton’s team-mate Nico Rosberg. However, after the chequered flag, Ricciardo was disqualified from the 2014 Australian Grand Prix as a result of, per the laws, gasoline couldn’t stream to the engine at a charge of greater than 100kg per hour and his Purple Bull exceeded that allowance. Kevin Magnussen was subsequently bumped as much as second on his McLaren debut along with his team-mate Jenson Button claiming the ultimate podium spot.

Daniil Kvyat: Ninth on the 2015 Malaysian Grand Prix

Daniil Kvyat, Purple Bull Racing RB11, stops on the monitor on his out lap

Photograph by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Photographs

Daniil Kvyat was speculated to make his debut within the season-opener at Melbourne, however a gearbox concern meant he by no means acquired to begin the race. His precise debut got here within the second spherical of the yr on the Malaysian Grand Prix, ending ninth and beating team-mate Ricciardo. Nevertheless, the Toro Rossos of Verstappen and Carlos Sainz beat each Purple Bull drivers that day.

Max Verstappen: Winner of the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix

Race winner Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing RB12 celebrates on the finish of the race

Photograph by: XPB Photographs

It ought to shock no person that the four-time world champion gained on his Purple Bull debut on the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix. However simply to make it much more spectacular, it got here as a part of a mid-season swap with Verstappen changing Kvyat 5 rounds into the yr.

It was the identical race that the Silver Arrows warfare hit a fever pitch as Mercedes pair and title rivals Hamilton and Nico Rosberg collided into one another on the opening lap. It paved method for Verstappen to sneak into the lead, one thing he held onto to turn into F1’s youngest ever winner on the age of 18 years and 228 days outdated.

Pierre Gasly: eleventh on the 2019 Australian Grand Prix 

Pierre Gasly, Purple Bull Racing RB15

Photograph by: Erik Junius

Pierre Gasly’s quick stint with Purple Bull began in Australia, like so many others on this checklist. He began the weekend eradicated in Q1, and whereas he averted main drama through the race, he failed to attain any factors whereas team-mate Verstappen secured a podium end.

Alex Albon: Fifth on the 2019 Belgian Grand Prix

Alex Albon, Purple Bull RB15, is congratulated on the end by his group

Photograph by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Photographs

Alex Albon was one other Toro Rosso driver promoted to Purple Bull mid-season, as he was introduced as Gasly’s substitute through the 2019 summer time break. Albon’s debut got here on the Belgian Grand Prix, that yr’s thirteenth grand prix, and he began pretty nicely ending fifth at Spa-Francorchamps regardless of an influence unit penalty which meant he began the race in seventeenth. 

Sergio Perez: Fifth on the 2021 Bahrain Grand Prix

Sergio Perez, Purple Bull Racing RB18, Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W13

Photograph by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Photographs

Regardless of a constructive Purple Bull debut for Albon, he largely struggled within the season-and-a-half which following that means veteran Sergio Perez changed him for 2021. The Mexican’s debut got here in Bahrain, the placement of his maiden grand prix win in 2020, however began off in disappointing vogue as he was eradicated from Q2 after a medium tyre gamble didn’t repay.

Issues acquired even worse when Perez was then pressured right into a pitlane begin after his RB16 stopped on the formation lap. Perez, however, recovered excellently to combat his method as much as fifth within the grand prix and end simply 15 seconds behind Valtteri Bottas who occupied the ultimate podium spot. 

Liam Lawson: DNF on the 2025 Australian Grand Prix

Liam Lawson, Purple Bull Racing

Photograph by: James Sutton / Motorsport Photographs

Lawson struggled throughout his time at Purple Bull from begin to end, because it started with a Q1 elimination on his debut at Albert Park Circuit whereas team-mate Verstappen was up in third. The 23-year-old didn’t make a lot progress within the grand prix earlier than he ultimately crashed out with 11 laps remaining, hitting the boundaries at a moist Flip 2.