Max Verstappen is the first name that comes to mind when people discuss Red Bull Racing’s Formula One team, but like every team, there’s another driver who races with the team. There have been several drivers over the past few years who have driven alongside Verstappen, but they typically don’t achieve the same success and are quickly released from the team. While some fans view this as an indication that those drivers aren’t good enough for the first team, it may be due to their direct comparison to the current champion. It could also mean that the team won’t have the same success without their favorite driver.
Racing with Red Bull is likely a dream for many young F1 drivers. The team has produced several popular drivers, including Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel. Both of those drivers are four-time World Champions and are the face of the first team. It helps that drivers can get their feet wet with the sister team, Racing Bulls. That team has produced other current drivers, including Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Sergio Pérez, Liam Lawson, and Yuki Tsunoda. The constant stream of drivers from the sister team allows Red Bull to get drivers early and train them for their future use.
The problems seemingly started in 2019 with Gasly. He only lasted 12 races with the primary team before being moved back to the Racing Bulls, which was then known as Toro Rosso. He did make points in nine of those races, but didn’t make consistent podiums like Verstappen.
Albon replaced Gasly and also completed a season in the second seat. He consistently stayed in the points, but was missing the podium wins that Verstappen was getting. After that, Pérez entered the picture. He lasted the longest, staying beside Verstappen for a full four seasons. He won five races with Red Bull but struggled during the 2024 season. What was he missing during that season? Podiums.
One obvious similarity between the second-seat drivers was their comparison to Verstappen. The primary driver consistently outdrove his teammates, taking more points and winning more podiums overall. While it seemed that he was being held back by drivers that fans said were far below his level, 2019 marked the year when he first started experiencing some major championship success. He got third overall that year and the year after. When Pérez joined the team in 2021, Verstappen received his first World Championship win. He won the next three, with Perez coming in third and second behind him. In 2024, Pérez’s last year with the team, Verstappen still did well, finishing sixth overall.
If Pérez had driven for another team, he likely would still be in a car this season. His only fault seems to be racing beside Verstappen, who is an intimidating factor for other drivers. He is the four-time World Champion for a reason, and consistently races in the points, typically in the top five. It’s become harmful to compare Verstappen and his teammates. They’ll never meet his expectations because they aren’t at his level. It’s hurting Red Bull to continue searching for a second Verstappen when instead they could help drivers become actual weapons alongside him.
The problems with the second seat are being discussed more this year because the position lacks a consistent driver. The year began with Lawson as the chosen driver to race alongside Verstappen. He only lasted a handful of races before going back to Racing Bulls and being replaced by Tsunoda. It was obvious that the crew suspected a driver issue, but a look at the current car also sheds some light. The RB21 is a difficult car to drive, something that Verstappen has been incredibly vocal about. During the race, he’s told his crew that it isn’t keeping pace and has even said the same to reporters.
Red Bull expects Verstappen to be the top driver in every race, with the second seat following right behind him. If Red Bull expects Verstappen to be the best, then no second seat can perform well if even their primary driver cannot complete a race successfully with their current car.
Red Bull has organized itself around Verstappen to the detriment of any other driver they hope to recruit. Albon, in particular, has spoken about how the car is set up to meet the specifications that Verstappen prefers. This isn’t to say the excitement surrounding him isn’t valid. Verstappen is a fantastic driver with a real chance at making history the longer he stays on the track.
It comes down to the team managers to create a car that will benefit both Verstappen and any driver who races with him. The second seat can’t be cursed if the team isn’t letting them compete at all. Now that Christian Horner is gone, some changes may occur, potentially putting two drivers in play instead of just one.
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