Red Bull signs Robin Raikkonen to junior programme as Verstappen makes light-hearted remark
Red Bull has signed 11-year-old Robin Raikkonen to its junior driver programme, with work set to begin in 2027. The move also prompted a joking comment from Max Verstappen about his Red Bull seat, while David Coulthard said Robin’s development path resembles the approach used with Verstappen.
Red Bull announced earlier this month that Robin Raikkonen, 11, has been signed to its driver development programme. According to Motorsport.com, he is due to begin working with the team from 2027.
The signing also drew a light-hearted reaction from Max Verstappen, with Crash.net reporting that he joked about his Red Bull Formula 1 seat after the announcement.
Motorsport.com also reported that former Formula 1 driver David Coulthard sees similarities between Robin Raikkonen’s rise and Max Verstappen’s early development. Coulthard said Kimi Raikkonen is following an approach with Robin that mirrors how Jos Verstappen guided Max.
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