Sebastian Vettel in a Formula 3 Euro Series car in 2006, featuring prominent Red Bull sponsorship
Michael Ammermüller racing in the World Series By Renault in 2007
Pepe Martí at the 2024 Spielberg Formula 2 round

The Red Bull Junior Team is a driver development programme operated by Austrian conglomerate company Red Bull GmbH to identify and develop talent in open-wheel racing. Members of the Junior Team are financed and sponsored by Red Bull in kart racing and junior formulae.

The programs have been successful in bringing a selection of drivers into Formula One. Five graduates—Sebastian Vettel, Daniel Ricciardo, Max Verstappen, Pierre Gasly and Carlos Sainz Jr.—have won a Formula One Grand Prix, whilst Vettel and Verstappen have won the World Drivers' Championship a combined eight times. Red Bull owns two teams in Formula One, Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls.

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. Two years later, in 2010, Vettel became the first Red Bull Junior graduate to win the Formula One World Championship.

The similar Red Bull Driver Search, now ended, was an American spin-off of the same idea held in 2005. In 2024, Red Bull formed a separate programme called the Red Bull Academy Programme to support the team's F1 Academy drivers.

Current drivers

Red Bull Junior Team drivers
DriverYearsCurrent SeriesTitles as Red Bull Junior
Thailand Enzo Tarnvanichkul2023–Eurocup-3 Spanish Winter Championship Eurocup-3None as Red Bull Junior Team member
Netherlands Rocco Coronel2024–Formula Winter Series F4 Spanish ChampionshipGinetta Junior Championship (2025)
Sweden Scott Kin Lindblom2024–UAE4 Series F4 British ChampionshipNone as Red Bull Junior Team member
Republic of Ireland Fionn McLaughlin2024–Formula Regional Oceania Trophy FIA Formula 3 ChampionshipF4 British Championship (2025)
Mexico Ernesto Rivera2024–Formula Regional Oceania Trophy FIA Formula 3 ChampionshipNone as Red Bull Junior Team member
Bulgaria Nikola Tsolov2025–FIA Formula 2 ChampsionshipNone as Red Bull Junior Team member
Switzerland Chiara Bättig2025–Formula Winter Series F4 British ChampionshipNone as Red Bull Junior Team member
Argentina Mattia Colnaghi2025–FIA Formula 3 ChampionshipNone as Red Bull Junior Team member
Sweden Melvin Kalousdian2026–Ginetta Junior ChampionshipNone as Red Bull Junior Team member

Graduates to Red Bull Racing in Formula 1

DriverJunior Team experienceF1 experience with Red BullF1 experience with other teams
YearsFormer seriesToro Rosso / AlphaTauri / Racing BullsRed Bull Racing
Austria Christian Klien2001–2003Formula BMW ADAC (2001) Formula Renault 2000 Germany (2002) Formula Renault 2000 Eurocup (2002) Formula 3 Euro Series (2003)—N/a2005–2006Jaguar (2004) HRT (2010)
Germany Sebastian Vettel2001–2007Karting (2001–2002) Formula BMW ADAC (2003–2004) Formula 3 Euro Series (2005–2006) Formula Renault 3.5 Series (2006–2007)2007–20082009 2010–2013 2014BMW Sauber (2007) Ferrari (2015–2020) Aston Martin (2021–2022)
Italy Vitantonio Liuzzi2002–2004German Formula Three Championship (2002) International Formula 3000 (2003–2004)2006–20072005Force India (2009–2010) HRT (2011)
Australia Daniel Ricciardo2008–2011Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (2008) Formula Renault 2.0 West European Cup (2008) British Formula 3 Championship (2009) Formula Renault 3.5 Series (2009–2011)2012–2013 2023–20242014–2018HRT (2011) Renault (2019–2020) McLaren (2021–2022)
Thailand Alexander Albon†2008–2012Karting (2008–2011) Formula Renault 2.0 Alps (2012) Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (2012)20192019–2020Williams (2022–present)
Russia Daniil Kvyat2010–2013Formula BMW Europe (2010) Formula BMW Pacific (2010) Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (2010–2012) Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup (2011) Toyota Racing Series (2011) Formula Renault 2.0 Alps (2012) GP3 Series (2013) FIA Formula 3 European Championship (2013)2014 2016–2017 2019–20202015–2016—N/a
Netherlands Max Verstappen†2014FIA Formula 3 European Championship (2014)2015–20162016–2020 2021–2024 2025–present—N/a
France Pierre Gasly†2014–2017Formula Renault 3.5 (2014) GP2 Series (2014–2016) Super Formula (2017)2017–2018, 2019–20222019Alpine (2023–present)
Japan Yuki Tsunoda2019–2020FIA Formula 3 Championship (2019) Euroformula Open Championship (2019) Toyota Racing Series (2020) FIA Formula 2 Championship (2020)2021–20252025—N/a
New Zealand Liam Lawson†2019–2023FIA Formula 3 Championship (2019–2020) Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (2021) FIA Formula 2 Championship (2021–2022) Super Formula Championship (2023)2023–2024, 2025–present2025—N/a
France Isack Hadjar†2022–2024Formula Regional Asian Championship (2022) FIA Formula 3 Championship (2022) FIA Formula 2 Championship (2023–2024)20252026–present—N/a
  • Championship titles highlighted in bold.
  • † denotes currently active Formula 1 drivers.

Graduates to Toro Rosso/AlphaTauri/Racing Bulls

This list includes drivers who have graduated from the Junior Team to Toro Rosso, AlphaTauri and Racing Bulls but have not raced for Red Bull Racing. Former Red Bull Junior Team drivers who have driven for both Toro Rosso/AlphaTauri/RB and Red Bull Racing appear on the Graduates to Red Bull Racing table.

DriverJunior Team experienceToro Rosso / AlphaTauri / Racing BullsF1 experience with other teams
YearsFormer series
United States Scott Speed2003–2005British Formula 3 Championship (2003) Formula Renault 2000 Germany (2004) Formula Renault 2000 Eurocup (2004) GP2 Series (2005) A1GP (2005)2006–2007—N/a
Switzerland Sébastien Buemi2005–2008Formula BMW ADAC (2005) Formula Renault 2.0 NEC (2006) Formula 3 Euro Series (2006–07) A1GP (2006–07) GP2 Series (2007–08) GP2 Asia Series (2008)2009–2011—N/a
Spain Jaime Alguersuari2006–2009Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (2006–2007) Italian Formula Renault Championship (2006–2007) British Formula 3 Championship (2008) Spanish Formula Three Championship (2008) Formula Renault 3.5 Series (2009)2009–2011—N/a
New Zealand Brendon Hartley2006–2010Formula Renault 2.0 NEC (2006) Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (2006–2007) Formula Renault 2.0 Italia (2007) British Formula 3 (2008) Formula 3 Euro Series (2008–2009) Formula Renault 3.5 Series (2009–2010)2017–2018—N/a
France Jean-Éric Vergne2008–2011Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (2008–2009) Formula Renault 2.0 West European Cup (2008–2009) British Formula 3 Championship (2010) GP3 Series (2010) Formula Renault 3.5 Series (2010–2011)2012–2014—N/a
Spain Carlos Sainz Jr.†2010–2014Formula BMW Europe (2010) Formula BMW Pacific (2010) European F3 Open (2010) Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (2010–2011) Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup (2011) Formula 3 Euro Series (2011–2012) British Formula 3 Championship (2012) GP3 Series (2013) Formula Renault 3.5 Series (2013–2014)2015–2017Renault (2017–2018) McLaren (2019–2020) Ferrari (2021–2024) Williams (2025–present)
United Kingdom Arvid Lindblad†2021–2025Italian F4 Championship (2022) Formula 4 UAE Championship (2023) Italian F4 Championship (2023) Euro 4 Championship (2023) Formula Regional Middle East Championship (20224) FIA Formula 3 Championship (2024) Formula Regional Oceania Championship (2025) FIA Formula 2 Championship (2025)2026–present—N/a
  • Championship titles highlighted in bold.
  • † denotes currently active Formula 1 drivers.

Former drivers

Christian Klien driving for Red Bull Racing at the 2005 United States Grand Prix
DriverYearsSeries competedF1 Team(s)
Brazil Ricardo Maurício2001–2002International Formula 3000 (2001–2002)None
Austria Bernhard Auinger2001–2003German Formula 3 (2001–02) International Formula 3000 (2003) Formula 3 Euro Series (2003)None
Austria Patrick Friesacher2001–2003International Formula 3000 (2001–2003)Minardi (2005)
Austria Reinhard Kofler2001–2004Formula BMW Junior Cup (2001) Formula BMW ADAC (2002) Formula Renault 2000 Masters/Eurocup (2003–2004) Formula Renault 2000 Germany (2003–2004)None
Austria Christopher Wassermann2001–2004Karting (2001–2002) Formula BMW ADAC (2003–2004)None
Austria Martin Ragginger2002–2006Karting (2002–2004) Formula BMW ADAC (2005–2006)None
United States Paul Edwards2003World Series By Nissan (2003)None
United States Grant Maiman2003Formula Renault 2000 Masters (2003) Formula Renault 2000 Italia (2003) Formula Renault 2000 Germany (2003)None
United States Joel Nelson2003Euro Formula 3000 (2003) British Formula 3 (2003)None
Austria Mathias Lauda2003–2004World Series Lights (2003) International Formula 3000 (2004)None
Austria Norbert Siedler2003–2004World Series By Nissan (2003) Euro Formula 3000 (2004)None
United States Dominique Claessens2004Formula Renault 2000 Eurocup (2004) Formula Renault 2000 Germany (2004)None
United States Matt Jaskol2004Formula BMW USA (2004)None
India Narain Karthikeyan2004World Series By Nissan (2004)Jordan (2005) HRT (2012–13)
Finland Atte Mustonen2004Karting (2004)None
Mexico Guillermo Rojas2004Formula Renault V6 Eurocup (2004)None
Colombia Federico Montoya2004Formula BMW ADAC (2004) Formula BMW USA (2004)None
United States Colin Fleming2004–2006Formula Renault 2000 Eurocup (2004) Formula Renault 2000 Germany (2004) Formula Renault 3.5 Series (2005–2006)None
Germany Michael Ammermüller2004–2007Formula Renault 2000 Germany (2004) Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (2004–2005) Formula Renault 2.0 Italia (2005) GP2 Series (2006–2007) Formula Renault 3.5 Series (2007) A1GP (2007)None
South Africa Adrian Zaugg2004–2007Formula BMW ADAC (2004) Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (2005–2006) Formula Renault 2.0 Italia (2005–2006) Formula Renault 3.5 Series (2006) A1GP (2006–07 & 2007) GP2 Series (2007)None
Hong Kong Jim Ka To2005Asian Formula Renault Challenge (2005)None
Argentina Matías Milla2005Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (2005) Formula Renault 2.0 Germany (2005)None
Finland Teemu Nyman2005Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (2005) Formula Renault 2.0 Germany (2005)None
Austria Philipp Eng2005–2006Karting (2005) Formula BMW ADAC (2006)None
Switzerland Neel Jani2005, 2007GP2 Series (2005) A1GP (2005 & 2007) Champ Car (2007)None
Portugal Filipe Albuquerque2005–2007Spanish Formula 3 (2005) Formula Renault 2.0 Germany (2005) Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (2005–2006) Formula Renault 2.0 NEC (2006) Formula Renault 3.5 Series (2007) GP2 Series (2007) A1GP (2007)None
United States John Edwards2005–2007Formula Renault 2.0 Germany (2005) Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (2005–2006) Formula Renault 2.0 NEC (2006) Atlantic Championship (2007)None
Monaco Stefano Coletti2005–2008Formula BMW ADAC (2005–2006) Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (2006–2007) Formula Renault 2.0 Italia (2007) Formula 3 Euro Series (2008)None
Russia Mikhail Aleshin2005–2009Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (2005) Formula Renault 2.0 Germany (2005) A1GP (2005–06) Formula Renault 3.5 Series (2006–2008) GP2 Series (2007) FIA Formula Two Championship (2009)None
Russia Sergey Afanasyev2006Formula Renault 2.0 Suisse (2006) Formula Renault 2.0 NEC (2006)None
Australia Nathan Antunes2006Formula Renault 2.0 NEC (2006) German Formula 3 (2006)None
Japan Yoshitaka Kuroda2006Formula BMW ADAC (2006)None
Republic of Ireland Niall Quinn2006Formula BMW UK (2006)None
United Kingdom Oliver Oakes2006–2007Formula BMW UK (2006) Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (2007) Formula Renault 2.0 NEC (2007)None
Italy Edoardo Piscopo2006–2007Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (2006) Formula Renault 2.0 Italia (2006) Toyota Racing Series (2006–07) Formula 3 Euro Series (2007) A1GP (2007)None
Canada Robert Wickens2006–2009Formula BMW USA (2006) Atlantic Championship (2007) Formula Renault 3.5 Series (2007–2008) A1GP (2007–08) Formula 3 Euro Series (2008) FIA Formula Two Championship (2009)None
Brazil Pedro Bianchini2007Formula BMW ADAC (2007)None
Germany Kevin Mirocha2007Formula BMW ADAC (2007)None
Canada Daniel Morad2007Formula BMW USA (2007)None
France Tom Dillmann2007–2008Formula 3 Euro Series (2007–2008)None
France Jean-Karl Vernay2007–2008A1GP (2007) Formula 3 Euro Series (2007–2008)None
Finland Mika Mäki2007–2009Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (2007) Formula Renault 2.0 Italia (2007) Formula 3 Euro Series (2008–2009)None
India Karun Chandhok2008GP2 Series (2008) GP2 Asia Series (2008)HRT (2010) Team Lotus (2011)
Spain Daniel Juncadella2008–2009Formula BMW Americas (2008) Formula BMW Europe (2008–2009)None
Italy Mirko Bortolotti2009FIA Formula Two Championship (2009)None
Germany Stefan Wackerbauer2012Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (2012) Formula Renault 2.0 Alps (2012)None
United Kingdom Lewis Williamson2012Formula Renault 3.5 Series (2012)None
Portugal António Félix da Costa2012–2013GP3 Series (2012) Formula Renault 3.5 Series (2012–2013)None
South Africa Callan O'Keeffe2012–2013ADAC Formel Masters (2012–2013)None
United Kingdom Tom Blomqvist2013FIA Formula 3 European Championship (2013)None
Netherlands Beitske Visser2013ADAC Formel Masters (2013)None
United Kingdom Alex Lynn2014GP3 Series (2014)None
United Kingdom Callum Ilott2015European Formula 3 Championship (2015) Toyota Racing Series (2015)None
United Kingdom Dean Stoneman2015Formula Renault 3.5 Series (2015) GP2 Series (2015)None
Australia Luis Leeds2016F4 British Championship (2016) NACAM Formula 4 Championship (2016)None
Brazil Sérgio Sette Câmara2016FIA Formula 3 European Championship (2016)None
Finland Niko Kari2016–2017FIA Formula 3 European Championship (2016) GP3 Series (2017)None
Netherlands Richard Verschoor2016–2017SMP F4 Championship (2016) F4 Spanish Championship (2016) Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (2017) Toyota Racing Series (2017)None
United States Neil Verhagen2017–2018Formula Renault Eurocup (2017–2018) Formula Renault NEC (2017–2018)None
United Kingdom Dan Ticktum2017–2019Formula Renault Eurocup (2017) FIA F3 World Cup (2017–2018) FIA Formula 3 European Championship (2018) Super Formula Championship (2019)None
Japan Nirei Fukuzumi2018FIA Formula 2 Championship (2018) Super Formula Championship (2018)None
United Kingdom Harry Thompson2018–2019KartingNone
Australia Jack Doohan2018–2021F4 British Championship (2018) Euroformula Open Championship (2019) F3 Asian Championship (2019–2020) FIA Formula 3 Championship (2020–2021) FIA Formula 2 Championship (2021)Alpine (2024–2025)
United Kingdom Jonny Edgar2018–2022Karting (2018) ADAC Formula 4 Championship (2019–2020) Italian F4 Championship (2019–2020) FIA Formula 3 Championship (2021–2022)None
Estonia Jüri Vips2018–2022FIA Formula 3 Championship (2019) Super Formula Championship (2019) Formula Regional European Championship (2020) FIA Formula 2 Championship (2020–2022)None
Norway Dennis Hauger2018–2023F4 British Championship (2018) Italian F4 Championship (2019) ADAC Formula 4 Championship (2019) Euroformula Open Championship (2019) FIA Formula 3 Championship (2020–2021) Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia (2020, 2022–2023) Formula Regional European Championship (2020) FIA Formula 2 Championship (2022–2023)None
Austria Lucas Auer2019Super Formula Championship (2019)None
Mexico Patricio O'Ward2019IndyCar Series (2019) FIA Formula 2 Championship (2019) Super Formula Championship (2019)None
Brazil Igor Fraga2020FIA Formula 3 Championship (2020)None
India Jehan Daruvala2020–2022FIA Formula 2 Championship (2020–2022) F3 Asian Championship (2021)None
United States Jak Crawford2020–2023Italian F4 Championship (2020) ADAC Formula 4 Championship (2020) FIA Formula 3 Championship (2021–2022) Formula Regional Asian Championship (2022) Formula Regional Middle East Championship (2023) FIA Formula 2 Championship (2023)None
Japan Ayumu Iwasa2021–2024F3 Asian Championship (2021) FIA Formula 3 Championship (2021) FIA Formula 2 Championship (2022–2023) Super Formula Championship (2024)None
Mexico Noel León2022Formula Regional European Championship (2022)None
Japan Yuto Nomura2022French F4 Championship (2022)None
Japan Ren Sato2022Super Formula Championship (2022)None
Japan Souta Arao2022–2023French F4 Championship (2022) GB3 Championship (2023)None
Brazil Enzo Fittipaldi2023FIA Formula 2 Championship (2023)None
Barbados Zane Maloney2023FIA Formula 2 Championship (2023)None
Colombia Sebastián Montoya2023FIA Formula 3 Championship (2023) Formula Regional Middle East Championship (2023) European Le Mans Series (2023)None
France Enzo Deligny2023–2024F4 Spanish Championship (2023) Italian F4 Championship (2023) Formula 4 UAE Championship (2024) Formula Regional European Championship (2024)None
United States James Egozi2024F4 Spanish Championship (2024)None
Poland Kacper Sztuka2024FIA Formula 3 Championship (2024)None
Germany Oliver Goethe2024–2025FIA Formula 3 Championship (2024) FIA Formula 2 Championship (2024–2025)None
Spain Pepe Martí2024–2025FIA Formula 2 Championship (2024–2025)None
Germany Tim Tramnitz2024–2025FIA Formula 3 Championship (2024–2025)None
France Jules Caranta2025Eurocup-3 Spanish Winter Championship (2025) Eurocup-3 (2025)None
Lebanon Christopher El Feghali2025Eurocup-4 Spanish Winter Championship (2025) F4 Spanish Championship (2025) Eurocup-3 (2025)None
Austria Niklas Schaufler2025Eurocup-4 Spanish Winter Championship (2025) F4 Spanish Championship (2025)None
Source:
  • Championship titles highlighted in bold.

American spin-off

Red 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 was Scott Speed, who went on to compete in F1 from 2006–2007 for Toro Rosso.

Red Bull Academy Programme

In 2024, Red Bull set up the Red Bull Academy Programme to support the team's F1 Academy drivers. F1 Academy was founded by Formula One as a Formula 4–level racing series aimed at developing and preparing young female drivers to progress to higher levels of competition.

  • The Red Bull Ford–supported F1 Academy car.
  • The Red Bull Racing–supported F1 Academy car.
  • The Racing Bulls–supported F1 Academy car.
Red Bull Academy Programme drivers
DriverYearsF1 Academy titles as Red Bull Academy Programme member
United Arab Emirates Amna Al Qubaisi2024None as Red Bull Academy Programme member
United Arab Emirates Hamda Al Qubaisi2024None as Red Bull Academy Programme member
Netherlands Emely de Heus2024None as Red Bull Academy Programme member
United States Chloe Chambers2025None as Red Bull Academy Programme member
Brazil Rafaela Ferreira2025–2026None as Red Bull Academy Programme member
United Kingdom Alisha Palmowski2025–2026None as Red Bull Academy Programme member
Sources:

Results

Formula 3000

International Formula 3000 Championship Results
YearCarDriversRacesWinsPolesFast lapsPointsD.C.T.C.
1999Lola B99/50-ZytekBrazil Enrique Bernoldi10000218th?
Austria Markus Friesacher30000NC
Brazil Ricardo Mauricio7000122nd
2000Lola B99/50-ZytekBrazil Ricardo Mauricio10000417th9th
Brazil Enrique Bernoldi10000516th
2001Lola B99/50-ZytekAustria Patrick Friesacher12000813th5th
Spain Antonio García40000NC
Brazil Ricardo Mauricio8000148th
2002Lola B02/50-ZytekAustria Patrick Friesacher120001410th5th
Brazil Ricardo Mauricio12000911th
2003Lola B02/50-ZytekItaly Vitantonio Liuzzi10010394th2nd
Austria Patrick Friesacher8101365th
Austria Bernhard Auinger20000NC
  • D.C. = Drivers' Championship position, T.C. = Teams' Championship position.

See also

Notes

External links