Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls: A problem every team would love to have

Formula 1 teams are not only keen to attract today’s superstars of the premier class. Behind the scenes, they are also scouting for and nurturing the GP stars of tomorrow. To this end, almost every team in the GP circus has its own junior programme. This includes Red Bull, which supports the most promising talents through the Red Bull Junior Team – and has been doing so successfully for years.

The latest rising star is Nikola Tsolov, who is racking up one victory after another in Formula 2 – even though this year marks his first full season in the much-vaunted stepping stone to Formula 1. Most recently, the Bulgarian won the main races at the Red Bull Ring and at the Silverstone Circuit, where he also claimed victory in the sprint race at the historic British track. He currently tops the World Championship standings.

No wonder the 19-year-old is already being linked with a Formula 1 seat. And that’s putting the pressure on the current Red Bull drivers, as David Coulthard is well aware. On the “Up to Speed” podcast, the Scot says this is a problem every team would love to have: “It’s lovely, of course, to have this problem. And I suppose there’s always the option of placing him somewhere else, should they be satisfied with the other drivers.”

Coulthard is convinced that Red Bull is leading the way when it comes to investing in the future: “Red Bull has taken a pioneering role over the years in terms of investment in motorsport and its drivers, if you look at what the company has invested and how high the valuations are today. I don’t think they’re thinking: ‘We’re reaching the limit of what we can still afford to invest here.’»

Speaking about Tsolov, the former F1 driver says: “That’s a name to remember, because he drives really well and is a great character off the track too. I’m already looking forward to seeing him in Formula 1.”

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