Red Bull: the Junior Team distributes its forces

Sebastian Vettel is the best example of Red Bull Junior Team. Vice-world champion of Formula 1, the German pilot is emulated and many pilots under contract with the energy drink brand would like to imitate him. If the system is sometimes cruel for certain hopefuls, Red Bull can pride itself on fully supporting the driver program on which it has bet.

« It's very very hard, confirmed Jean-Eric Vergne in the show Motors on RMC. But it?s a very good sector for drivers who deserve it, who are fast and who win championships. look Daniel Ricciardo, who won the F3 British, he (did) three days of testing in F1. It?s a great sector but you have to earn your place. That?s the hardest part. »

Next season, Red Bull has renewed the contracts of four drivers and will welcome two young hopefuls. Daniel Ricciardo, Jean-Eric Vergne, Brendon Hartley and Mirko Bortolotti are thus extended. However, the latter was not, according to initial plans, to go beyond the 2009 season but his recent performances have worked in his favor. Red Bull takes two other drivers under its wings, the Spaniard Carlos Sainz Jr and the Russian Daniil Kvyat.

The Red Bull Junior Team is closely monitored by Helmut Markko, who takes care of placing his drivers in different disciplines, in order to bring them to the highest level in the best possible way. But Dr. Markko is not sentimental in managing his pilots' careers. “ It's true, he's not a softy, confirms ?JEV?. If we get the results, if we win the races, it's nice. But if we don't have the best time in the race, he doesn't congratulate us on the victory. » In this sector of excellence, failure is not an option. A merciless doctrine but one that has proven itself.

Next season, the Red Bull Junior Team drivers will once again allow the beverage brand to benefit from ideal exposure. Brendon Hartley and Daniel Ricciardo have been signed to team up at Tech 1 Racing, in Formula Renault 3.5 Series, the discipline which allowed Jaime Alguersuari to reach Formula 1. But, precisely, the latter's place at Toro Rosso is threatened.

If the Catalan signed a contract two months ago, according to the driver himself, to continue the adventure in F1 with Toro Rosso, nothing is less certain. Daniel Ricciardo, very convincing in Jerez for the F1 tests with Red Bull, could recover the Spaniard's place at Toro Rosso. Which could push Helmut Markko to replace Ricciardo with Mirko Bortolotti in FR 3.5 Series.

As for Jean-Eric Vergne, he is following a trajectory that could take him to the highest level in the medium term. Vice-champion this season in Formula Renault 2.0 WEC, as well as in the Eurocup, the Frenchman will continue his training in Great Britain, participating in the British F3 championship. A series which honored Jaime Alguersuari in 2008 and Daniel Ricciardo in 2009.

Carlos Sainz Jr, son of the famous pilot of rally, and Daniil Kvyat, are lower on the ladder of access to the high level. After good results in karting, the two young drivers will participate next season in the Formula BMW Europe championship, the German manufacturer having decided to continue its involvement in the discipline.