Last weekend saw us look back at those who graduated through Red Bull’s Junior programme into Formula One, so let now take a look at five top drivers who failed to reach F1 via the scheme.
Whilst only a select few graduated through to Red Bull’s main F1 team and others drove for Toro Rosso (now Alpha Tauri), over 60 drivers failed to properly earn a chance in F1 with either team despite having been on the programme at various stages of their career.
We therefore take a look at five drivers who failed to make the grade within Red Bull’s Junior Programme yet found success after leaving the scheme, from winning Formula E to graduating into a behind-the-scenes F1 role with rival teams to bouncing back upon a return to IndyCar racing.
Antonio Felix Da Costa (2012-13)
Having flourished under the Red Bull Junior Programme between 2012-13 with a pair of third-placed championship finishes in GP3 then Formula Renault 3.5 plus 2012 Macau GP victory, it is a huge shame that Antonio Felix Da Costa didn’t get a chance in F1.
Da Costa since went on to endure several seasons in the wilderness racing in various sportscar series alongside Formula E, of which he finally rediscovered his spark in the last two seasons en route to sealing the 2019-20 title alongside finishing third in LMP2 of FIA World Endurance .
The Portuguese driver also won the Macau GP for a second time in 2016 yet continued to find himself snubbed by F1 teams and even F2, which is a shame when we have seen experienced drivers like Sergio Canamasas and Roberto Merhi hang around the series into their late 20s.
There is therefore no doubt that Da Costa wasn’t properly handed a chance to impress in F1 and is definitely one of Red Bull’s biggest losses of their junior programme, given how different his career could of turned out if had been given further backing with even a GP2 campaign if not a shot at Toro Rosso.
Callum Ilott (2015)
Callum Ilott must feel like one that got away from Red Bull after a disappointing winless 2015 season in FIA F3 Europe saw him dropped from their junior programme after just a single season.
Ilott’s results in 2016-17 seasons however suggested that he perhaps is someone who could of done with more support and belief rather than cut adrift after a single season on the scheme, especially because he has flourished upon joining Ferrari Driver Academy in 2018 with proper support.
You therefore have to wonder whether Ilott could of been in F1 by now if Red Bull have stuck by him and backed him with further support, especially given the difficult period that the team has endured in the last two seasons in terms of second driver.
Ilott though probably would feel that he has had a wise escape from Red Bull given the progress that he has made under Ferrari’s Academy in terms of results and support, as he prepares to become Ferrari’s Test and Reserve Driver for the upcoming 2021 campaign.
Sergio Sette Camara (2016)
Sergio Sette Camara might of endured a difficult 2016 season in FIA F3 Europe under Red Bull’s backing in terms of consistency, but their decision to drop him definitely was the making of him.
2017 saw him switch to F2 with MP Motorsport where he slowly but surely found his form towards end of that season, before successfully carrying it over into 2018 where he finished sixth with Carlin in his first proper consistent junior campaign followed by fourth with DAMS in 2019 after another solid season.
The latter season also saw him join McLaren as their Test and Development Driver which was duly deserved after a strong 2018 season alongside their protégé – Lando Norris, only for Red Bull to hand him a second chance by poaching him as their Test Driver.
Sadly that position didn’t bring much inroads towards a F1 seat with the team clearly seeing him as nothing more than a Test Driver, when could of possibly taken a bold gamble and tried him out in place of the struggling Alex Albon for at least one or two races.
Dan Ticktum (2017-19)
Dan Ticktum spent two-and-a-half seasons as part of Red Bull Junior Programme in which he enjoyed strong results in first two years across multiple series, yet was dropped after hitting his first proper slump on the programme in early 2019.
Red Bull perhaps could of instead done more to help the Brit to overcome his loss of form as he adapted to a full season of Japan’s Super Formula, even if meant looking at alternative series where he could of been more comfortable and able to flourish than he did.
His loss though was Williams’ gain as he joined their Junior Academy in December 2019 and went on to race in F2 last season for DAMS, where he delivered a solid rookie season including a win at Silverstone and will now spend 2021 at Carlin looking to fight for the title.
Ticktum though feels like a lost opportunity for Red Bull because if they hadn’t of been dismissive and instead nurtured him through his 2019 slump, he could of well been in a stronger car last season but Ticktum is still young and is on the right track to hopefully reach F1 one day.
Pato O’Ward (2019)
Pato O’Ward only spent six months as part of Red Bull’s Junior Programme in 2019 but I feel that the team were slightly harsh in dropping him, particularly once his FIA superlicense points for winning 2018 IndyLights title were reduced due only a small number of cars competing that season.
One thing that I in particular dislike about how Red Bull handled O’Ward is how they managed his race programme because he was settling well into IndyCar, yet they shifted him to F2 for one weekend then into Super Formula where he was showing progress when they released him.
Luckily he bounced back with a strong 2020 IndyCar season with Arrow McLaren and looks a potential rising star for the future, yet I feel like if Red Bull had nurtured him better with stability despite his FIA Superlicense points reduction, he could well of improved further and be at AlphaTauri this season.