Red Bull has added another famous surname to its junior driver programme, with 11-year-old Robin Raikkonen set to join the academy from 2027. He is the son of 2007 Formula 1 world champion Kimi Raikkonen, and will remain in karting as he begins his association with Red Bull. The youngster, who is nicknamed “Ace”, has already competed in national and international karting championships, including Rotax and WSK events. Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies highlighted Robin’s speed, racecraft and natural ability while also pointing to the youngster’s maturity and calm approach. The team is expected to take a long-term view of his development rather than rushing him through the ranks. That will be important given Robin is still several years away from making the move into single-seater racing.
Kimi Raikkonen is also understood to be pleased with the way Red Bull plans to work with his son. The former Ferrari and McLaren driver has welcomed the supportive environment around the programme and its focus on developing him gradually. Red Bull has plenty of experience when it comes to bringing young drivers through the ranks. Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen are the biggest success stories, while the programme has also produced a number of other F1 drivers and race winners over the years. Robin and his family were recently seen at Monza, including time inside the Red Bull garage, before his move into the junior programme was confirmed.
Why Red Bull is investing in Robin so early
For Formula 1 teams, finding the next generation of drivers has become a long-term game. The best young karters can attract attention years before they are old enough to race in Formula 1 which is why academies are increasingly getting involved at an early age. Karting is where most of these drivers first show their potential. Racecraft, speed, consistency and the ability to handle pressure are all closely watched before teams decide whether to invest in a youngster. The usual route after karting involves Formula 4, Formula 3 and Formula 2 although every driver’s path is different.
Red Bull also has the advantage of having two F1 teams, Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls, giving its academy graduates another potential route towards the top level. Being Kimi Raikkonen’s son will naturally bring extra attention to Robin, but his results on track will ultimately determine how far he goes. At the age of 11 he still has a long way to go but for now Red Bull appears content to give him the backing and resources to develop at his own pace. Whether he eventually follows his father’s footsteps into Formula 11 will be interesting to see in the years to come.
