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Marko believes that inconsistent drivers are blocking the path for F1’s next generation.
Former Austrian professional racing driver and Director of the Red Bull F1 teams, Helmut Marko also heads up their driver development programme. His work includes Red Bull Racing and RB (formerly Toro Rosso and AlphaTauri).
Driver development
Marko has led Red Bull’s driver development programme since 1999 and helped progress well-known, successful F1 drivers from a young age. He has developed and supported Sebastian Vettel, Daniel Ricciardo, Carlos Sainz, Pierre Gasly, and Max Verstappen.
Undoubtedly, Marko’s priority is ensuring the mentorship and opportunity for younger generations entering Formula 1. He is known for spotting emerging talent in feeder series – such as Formula 2, Formula 3, and Formula 4 – but expanding beyond to include a wide spectrum of race series.
Current drivers in Red Bull’s Junior Team include Ayumu Iwasa – a Japanese Super Formula driver, Isack Hadjar and Pepe Marti – a Frenchman and Spaniard currently driving in F2, and Arvid Lindblad, Tim Tramnitz, and Oliver Goethe – a Briton and two German drivers in F3.
Their Junior Team includes two current F4 drivers – Enzo Tarnvanichkul from Thailand and James Egozi from the United States. In addition, for Formula Regional EU is French driver, Enzo Deligny.
Red Bull’s Junior Team alumni include reigning F1 World Champion Max Verstappen, current F1 RB driver Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull and RB F1 reserve driver Liam Lawson, and World Endurance Championship (WEC) driver Sebastien Buemi.
Are younger drivers being blocked?
Marko is concerned that current underperforming F1 drivers are blocking the way for young talent to enter the championship. As reported by Pitpass, Marko wrote the following in Speedweek.
“I can’t name any names, but there are drivers in the field who stagnate and are a bit better or worse depending on their mood. They block the way for the young drivers.”
The 81-year-old also explained that other F1 teams may not be doing all they can to give opportunities to junior drivers. He believes reliance is placed on experienced drivers who are not performing consistently. He shared:
“The teams are also afraid of juniors. Of course, they make mistakes, but I’d rather someone makes mistakes and is a hope for the future than there is no more improvement.”
However, Formula 1 will have a fresh-faced driver for 2025. Oliver Bearman drives in F2 and is an F1 reserve driver for Ferrari and Haas. He stepped in to drive Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari during the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix when Sainz suffered from appendicitis and required surgery.
Not only did Bearman make a great impression during his F1 race debut, but the British driver has also driven during free practice sessions this season for Haas. Haas has now announced the signing of the 19-year-old. He will drive for Haas F1 Team in 2025.
Ollie's on the grid for '25 ???
Confirming our first driver for the 2025 season, as Ollie signs a multi-year contract with the team ✍️#HaasF1 | @OllieBearman pic.twitter.com/Ub8wTYwES6
— MoneyGram Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) July 4, 2024
Speaking of Bearman’s signing, Marko shared that he does not believe this is a sign that younger drivers are receiving the right opportunities. Instead, he believes that Bearman’s exposure during Sainz’s absence helped to promote him as a viable and visible option for a 2025 F1 seat. Marko wrote:
“With Oliver Bearman, he was in the right place at the right time and will move up to Formula 1 next year. His race in the Ferrari has shown him his F1 future, but if you were to look at his Formula 2 results, things would look a lot worse for him. But it’s good that young people are coming into Formula 1, I’m absolutely in favour of that.”
Is Marko being hypocritical?
While Marko criticises other F1 teams for not promoting young talent, Red Bull recently announced that they would retain Sergio Perez as a driver for two more years. News that came amid disappointing performances from the Mexican F1 driver.
Similarly, last season RB (then AlphaTauri) dropped young talent Nyck de Vries mid-season in favour of the returning Ricciardo. Ricciardo then suffered a hand injury which put reserve driver, Lawson in the seat. Due to this, Lawson made an excellent impression, propelling himself into contention in the 2025 driver market.
? BREAKING: Liam Lawson to join RB in the future, Helmut Marko confirms
"The shareholders have made it known that it is a junior team and we have to act accordingly. The goal was that he [Ricciardo] would be considered for Red Bull with exceptional performances. That seat now… pic.twitter.com/7IHUFUqZQF
— RBR Daily (@RBR_Daily) June 26, 2024
Rumours have circulated about Ricciardo’s seat at RB. It has been suggested that if his performance does not improve or become more consistent, the seat may be given to Lawson.
Will we see any Red Bull Juniors in F1?
So, what about Red Bull’s other Junior drivers? Are they ready for their opportunity? Marko says:
“During the summer break, we will analyse and evaluate the performance of the Red Bull juniors in more detail.
He added:
“But we’re staying calm and continuing to produce good results with our juniors, who are now enjoying more priority again and are also allowed to drive Formula 1 cars.
“Isack and Arvid have extremely good qualities, they are super fast and have Formula 1 quality. Though we mustn’t forget Ayumu Iwasa either, who is currently in second place in the Super Formula in Japan.”
Hadjar drove Perez’s Red Bull during FP1 at the 2024 British Grand Prix earlier this month, narrowly avoiding a collision with Lando Norris’ McLaren. Red Bull received a fine for the dangerous incident.
Welcome back, Isack Hadjar ?
Our junior driver will be in Checo's car for FP1 at Silverstone ??#F1 || #BritishGP pic.twitter.com/Y6j9mycLJ5
— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) July 4, 2024
Junior drivers taking part in free practice sessions is a mandatory requirement for all F1 teams. The rule mandates the use of rookie drivers on at least two occasions in the season during FP1. Speaking of Hadjar, Marko commented:
“(Isack) Hadjar took the lead in the F2 standings with his victory in the feature at Silverstone, we mustn’t forget that he was unlucky several times, there was the engine failure, then the reserve engine that didn’t work and then the two fuel supply failures and twice he was also spun out through no fault of his own. Otherwise he would have been miles ahead in the championship.”
He continued:
“Isack did well in his most recent test, he never had the soft tyres on the car, but he showed strong performances.”
Age restrictions
Marko also highlighted the achievements of Lindblad:
“Lindblad shone in Formula 3, having stepped up directly from Formula 4 to Formula 3 as a rookie and winning both races.”
LAP 25 / 25 ?
ARVID LINDBLAD BECOMES OUR FIRST DOUBLE WINNER OF THE SEASON! ???
THE BRIT WINS THE 100TH #F3 RACE WITH A DOMINIANT DRIVE IN THE BARCELONA FEATURE!!! #SpanishGP pic.twitter.com/oYzJWHCR8Q
— Formula 3 (@Formula3) June 23, 2024
Additionally, Marko raised an important point regarding Lindblad’s age:
“He is only 16 years old and we are delighted that you can now drive Formula 1 again at 17.”
Marko refers to F1’s recent change in regulation that allows 17-year-olds to join F1 at the FIA’s discretion on a case-by-case basis. Previously, the regulations stated that a driver needs to be 18 to join F1. The FIA raised F1’s age limit to 18 from 2015 onwards following Verstappen’s early rise. The Dutchman joined F1 at 17 years old in 2015.
Many believe the recent regulation amendment was to aid Andrea Kimi Antonelli in joining Williams F1 team before the end of the 2024 season. It was thought that he would familiarise himself with the championship at Williams before stepping into a seat at Mercedes. However, the Italian F2 driver will be 18 in August.
Kimi and Toto Wolff yesterday in Ímola.
? x la_reflexidi_catia pic.twitter.com/E880AEF2Q3
— Kimi Antonelli Updates ?? (@AndreaKimiNews) March 12, 2024
Therefore, with this alteration to regulation, are we likely to see some younger talent entering F1 in the coming years? Or will F1 teams continue to trust the experience of older drivers looking to remain in the sport?
Featured Image Credit: @ThisIsFormu1a1 on X