F1: How Well Do Driver Development Programmes Work?

As do they really Give 'em Wings? And what happens when they Fly to Close to the Sun?

Red Bull Junior Team

Currently eight Formula 1 Drivers have made it all the way thru the Junior Team ranks to Red Bull Racing, which Claudio' denoted many Moons ago as the B-I-G BULLZ', albeit one's since been Demoted this season back to thou 'lil bulls, aka Scuderia Toro Rosso.

With a further six Junior members having driven for thou Toro Rosso Hondre' B-Team, which has now seen its second seat swapping with former Red Bull F1 Drivers returning to its ranks. Not to mention that only Carlos Sainz, Jr. remains in Formula 1 today.

As the Junior Team scheme began in Europe Wayback in Gory 2001! Although I first learned 'bout it when 'Ol Hollywood', aka Danny Sullivan led Red Bull's American Driver Search, with Scotty thee Goose' Speed ultimately landing in f1 in '06.

While it's first Formula 1 graduate was the long forgotten Christian Klien, joining Jaguar in 2004; Y'all remember him?

Klien rejects Red Bull offer

Other Red Bull graduates were Vitantonio Liuzzi and Daniil Kvyat, who's led a most charmed life under Red Bull's employ, now on his third stint.

Whilst the three most successful Junior Team members to Date are 'lil syd Viddle, aka Sebastian Vettel, Danny Ric', nee Daniel Ricciardo and Maximus Hothead', aka Max Verstappen, who've all won F1 races. With Vettel being the only World Champion, which he claimed All Four of his F1 World Championships with.

Meanwhile, current Toro Rosso drivers Pierre Gasley is licking his wounds after being sent back down to thou 'lil bulls alongside Kvyat at Mid Season's Break, in favour of Toro Rosso F1 rookie Alexander Albon being promoted to Red Bull as Verstappen's newest Junior Birdman'; Err team-mate.

Yet how stable will both of the Red Bull Driver line-ups remain in 2020? Since Red Bull Desperately needs to Shore Up its No. 2 seat alongside Verstappen in order to better compete in the coveted Formula 1 Constructors Championship.

which means possibly a non Red Bull Junior Member will partner Verstappen next year?

Hmm, Can Yuhs Say Thee Incredible Hulkster', nee Nico Hulkenberg? which would ARSE-Sumedly see Albon return to Toro Rosso and Monsieur Gasley being thrown out when Der Helmut' (Marco) wants some more Hot water for his Bubble bath; Yo Rubber duckies', better look Out!

Although Der Helmut' has apparently Ruled Out Hulkenberg's services, who now seems that the second Alfa Romeo Racing seat is his only F1 chance to remain on the Grid in 2020. And I'd Hazard guessing that Albon will retain his Red Bull drive alongside Verstappen next year...

Currently, the Highest Profile Junior Team member arguably is IndyCar's Pato O'Ward, who's Disappeared to Japan's Super Formula series, along with ex-DTM Champion Lucas Auer, nephew of some Austrian ex-Formula 1 Driver named Gerhard Berger.

While Japan's Yuki Tsunoda, racing in this year's FIA Formula 3 Championship has just won his first F3 race at Monza in the F3 weekend Sprint Race. and naturally aims to drive for the Honda powered F1 Team one day.

Ferrari Driver Academy

Thou Prancing Horse's Driver Academy reportedly began in '09 and was born out of the Scuderia's previous endeavour with loaning out Felipe Massa to Sauber for three years before calling him up to partner some Chap named Michael Schumacher at Ferrari in 2006.

As other Ferrari Academy Drivers include the late Jules Bianchi and Sergio Perez, before the latter joined McLaren in 2013. With the latest member to graduate to Formula 1 being Charles Leclerc, who's now become the first Academy member to Drive for la Scuderia.

As this year's Bumper Crop of Prancing Horse Junior Drivers is Headlined by somebody named Mick Schumacher. Along with the likes of Giuliano Alesi, son of another former Ferrari Pilote' named Jean Alesi.

Renault Sport Academy

Due to its multiple changes of Ownership, this Driver Development Scheme has had a magnitude 'O names, beginning life as the RF1 Driver Programme and then Renault Driver Development. Not to mention it's multiple iterations of various Lotus Renault entities .With a trio of its Debutante 2002 Class becoming Formula 1 Drivers, i.e.; Heikki Kovalainen, Robert Kubica and Tiago Monteiro.

Interestingly, three Alumni have scored one Grands Prix victory apiece, with Kovalainen winning the 2008 Hungarian Grand Prix at McLaren. Kubica capturing the '08 Canadian GP for BMW Sauber, and Pastor Maldonado at Team Willy', claiming Williams F1 latest Grands Prix W' at Barcelona six years ago, upon winning the 2013 Spanish Grand Prix from Pole position.

Other past Renault Driver Academy members to reach Thee Big League, aka F1 include Jerome d'Ambrosio, Lucas di Grassi and Romain Grosjean.

While a few other members of notoriety include Ben Hanley, now an aspiring IndyCar Driver racing for the fledgling DragonSpeed racing team. Along with former IndyCar racer Ho-Pin Tung.

While sadly, two of its former Alumni have seen tragedy in their respective careers. As FIA Formula 2 Driver Anthoine Hubert was Killed in the Formula 2 Feature race at Spa Francorchamps this year.

And Juan Manuel Correa, appointed as an Alfa Romeo Racing Development Driver this year - who Unintentionally Collided with Hubert, has emerged from being placed in a medically induced Coma to Aid in his recovery from multiple crash injuries suffered in his Head-on Shunt. Was last known to be fighting to keep his right foot from amputation!

Correa Uncertain of 100% Recovery from his Spa incident

Whilst le Reggie' Aims to further inspire Hopeful Junior Drivers by announcing intentions to promote one into F1...

Renault Hopes to Promote Junior Driver into F1 by 2021

Mercedes Junior Team

Mercedes Benz hasn't had a whopping number of recruits to its Junior Team, with just three names on its books prior to 2019. Beginning with Pascal Wehrlein in 2014. Followed by Esteban Ocon the following year, and then George Russell, who is the programme's latest member to graduate to F1 and is still part of the Mercedes "Family."

As Russell won last year's FIA Formula 2 Championship for ART Grand Prix, ahead of Lando Norris and Alexander Albon - before graduating to Formula 1 in the Woefully Underperforming Williams F1 outfit this season.

With the most recent appointees being a triplet of Unknown Drivers currently toiling in Go Karts and Formula 4. While Esteban Ocon apparently is No longer a Mercedes Junior member upon moving to Renault for 2020, replacing the aforementioned Hulkenberg alongside Danny ric'...

For the Conclusion of this ever Mushrooming No Fenders tome, see; F1: How Well Do Driver Development Programmes Work? Especially for the Midfield Runners?

F1:Red Bull Driver rotation 2.0'

And I thought it was only the Wheels On the Bus go Round 'N Round...

By now, Y'all have surely heard the News that Der Helmet', aka Red Bull Racing's Driver Overlord Dr. Helmut Marko has pulled his second notable El Switcheroo', by sending what Claudio' Branded Thee B-I-G BULLZ' Dutchie's' Wingman Pierre Gasley back Home to thou 'lil Bulls, aka Scuderia Toro Rosso...

Err, Uhm, Yeah I know. Thar now Toro Rosso Red Bull Honda instead, El Correctomundo? But for Mwah, they'll always be Scuderia Toro Rosso after Herr Dietrich' bought Minardi; But I Digress...

As Marko & Company, presumably Thee Pied Piper Chris Horner? Have decided it was High time to swap Gasley in favour of promoting my favourite Formula 1 Rookie Alexander Albon to partner Maximus Hothead', aka Max Verstappen for the second half of the F1 season, beginning at Thee Mighty Spa' next weekend. In a line-up Shuffle reminiscent of 'Ol Danni Kvyat's, who's now on his third life, Uhm? Installment at Toro Rosso.

F1: Thoughts upon Gasley, Albon, Red Bull and Maturity

As I hope that Albon can thrive in the pressure cooker atmosphere of being a Top-flight Red Bull racer, albeit his success wouldn't be overly beneficial for Monsieur Gasley, wee-Wee? Who hopefully won't end up having a similar Fait Accompli to past team-mate Brendon Hartley.

Helmut Marko: Gasley Had to Go, because He Doesn't like Overtaking

While it's worth noting, according to Leigh O’Gorman of The Motorsport Archive; reading between thou lines. Don't expect Patricio O'Ward to Strap-on a Formula 1 racecar anytime soon. Since he's still lacking the necessary points to acquire a FIA Superlicence until at least 2021...

F1:Red Bull's long, Contorted Road to Honda

As apparently this was Obvious to some. Although I guess you'd could have figured the Marriage would finally end...

Wayback in the Fall of 2017, F1 Fanatic's, now Race Fans Head Scribe Keith Collantine wrote how Renault was intending to end their fractious Power Unit (PU) supply deal with the Milton Keynes energy Drinks outfit, now that Renault had returned as a fully fledged F1 constructor.

Red Bull-Honda for 2019? Renault to end engine deal

Although Red Bull's never been Shy of changing the Powerplants in the back of Adrian Newey's creations, since Red Bull began life in Formula 1 as a Constructor in 2005 running Ford's 3.0-litre normally aspirated Cosworth V-10's.

then for the '06 season, with the FIa's mandated switch to 2.4-litre normally aspirated KERS assisted V-8 lumps', Red Bull chose to run customer Ferrari engines for one season  before switching to le Reggie;, for which they ultimately won four F1 Constructors and Drivers World Championships before they tried unsuccessfully to Ditch Renault in favour of a more powerful engine...

Poor Red Bull apparently Shot its Ox...

Thus since the 2016 Formula 1 season, Red Bull's been running Thar customer Renault PU's badged as Tag-Heuer Power Units instead, which supposedly was some sort of compromise to continue being propelled by le Reggie'.

Although I must say, it seemed that Red Bull further muddied the waters by forming their new partnership with Aston Martin, who's now the team's title sponsor.  Not to mention Adrian Newey having done design work upon Aston's Valkyrie road car.

Could Aston Martin Spread its Wings into F1 from 2021?

Although Honda Motorsport's Boss has already confirmed the team will run as Aston Martin Red Bull Honda next season...

Meanwhile, we All know that Red Bull's "Junior," or B-Team the 'lil Bullz', aka Scuderia Toro Rosso took over the beat-up upon Honda PU supply deal this season after Sauber scrapped their initial plans to become the Japanese Manufacturer's first F1 Power Unit customer.

thus Toro Rosso agreed to switch to Honda power for 2018. in order to allow McLaren to jump ship to Renault, for which hasn't exactly gone according to Woking's plans. Since the FIA was keen to keep Honda racing in Formula 1, with Renault being McLaren's only option for this year's championship.

Honda and Toro Rosso ring the Changes Ahead of New Partnership

As not only has Red Bull agedly used Toro Rosso as Thar' measuring stick to see how well the latest spec Honda PU's perform vs. their rival Renault PU's, but Toro Rosso, specifically with Pierre Gasley's amazing fourth place finish in Bahrain, has seen the 'lil Faenza based squad vastly improve upon McLaren's past fortunes.

Although in fairness to McLaren-Renault, mostly upon the back of Fernando Alonso's 32 points, they currently lie fifth overall in the Constructors rankings, one place behind the Works Renault team.

Yet Gasley has outshone Fernando's team-mate Stoffel Vandoorne in the points table 18-8, whilst 'Der Helmut's (Marco) been itching to toss out Brendon Hartley along with his Luke-warm Bath-water, who's scored only one single point to date.

As Renault's fourth Overall with 56 points. Followed by McLaren with 40, Force India sixth with 28 and Toro Rosso P7 Overall with 19 points prior to the French Grand Prix.

 And thus, with Red Bull delaying its choice for who it's 2019 Power Unit supplier would be, they've finally announced that they'll partner with Honda next year, reportedly for two years, giving them the option to see what the new engine; Err Power Unit regulations will look like in 2021.

While is it just Mwah? Who finds it only slightly ironic that Red Bull decided to announce the news just days prior to this year's French Grand Prix in Renault's Backyard...

Going for It" Red Bull confirms Honda Partnership for 2019

And while I don't see eye-to-eye upon a lot of things the Pied Piper Saint Horner says, I do agree with Christian that the current PU Regs' limiting teams to just three Power Units per season is Ridiculous!

Christian Horner says FIA should increase Engine allowance