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Red Bull Racing’s shocking blunders: 10 devastating driver mistakes that shattered careers

Miguel Cunha by Miguel Cunha
January 17, 2026
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 4 mins read
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Red Bull Racing’s shocking blunders: 10 devastating driver mistakes that shattered careers

Carlos Sainz and Daniel Ricciardo seen during Infiniti Red Bull Racing Show Run at the Zocalo Plaza in Mexico City on June 27th, 2015. // Marcos Ferro / Red Bull Content Pool // SI201506280025 // Usage for editorial use only //

Title: Red Bull Racing’s Reckless Legacy: The Ten Most Catastrophic Driver Decisions That Haunt the Team

In the exhilarating world of Formula 1, Red Bull Racing stands tall as one of the most celebrated teams of the modern era. Yet, beneath the gloss of championship titles and the monumental achievements of Max Verstappen lies a darker narrative—one marked by brutal driver management strategies that have often veered into chaos and destruction. As the team gears up for a transformative 2026 season, it’s time to confront the ten most regrettable driver decisions that not only shaped Red Bull’s trajectory but also left a trail of shattered careers and untapped potential.

1. Jaime Alguersuari: The Young Prodigy Thrown to the Wolves In a high-stakes gamble, Red Bull thrust Jaime Alguersuari into the unforgiving world of F1 at just 19 years old in 2009. Lacking proper preparation, he became the youngest driver in history, but instead of thriving, he became a cautionary tale of how haste can ruin talent. Despite managing to score a few points, his career fizzled out by the age of 25. The harsh reality? Talent often succumbs to the pressure of urgency.

2. Scott Speed: The Explosive Fallout The 2007 dismissal of Scott Speed was not just a sporting decision; it was a chaotic spectacle of public humiliation and internal conflict. Red Bull learned the hard way that a poorly chosen driver can ignite a political firestorm within the team. The fallout revealed a critical flaw in their selection process—one that still haunts them today.

3. Alex Albon: A Star Ignored Albon’s journey with Red Bull is a classic case of mismanagement. Dismissed too soon for not measuring up to Verstappen, he found success elsewhere, raising an uncomfortable question: can Red Bull truly cultivate its own talent? His resurgence post-Red Bull suggests the team may have lost its touch in driver development.

4. Daniil Kvyat: The Recycled Driver Dilemma Kvyat’s return to Toro Rosso in 2019, after being demoted and then recalled, painted a bleak picture of Red Bull’s driver pipeline. It underscored a troubling trend: rather than nurturing new talent, the team was forced to recycle drivers, signaling a stagnation in their development program.

5. Carlos Sainz: A Double Departure That Cost More Than Just Points Perhaps Red Bull’s most significant blunder was letting Carlos Sainz slip away—not once, but twice (in 2017 and 2025). The chaotic 2017 season, riddled with constant driver changes and poor strategic decisions, showcased a team scrambling for direction. The lingering question remains: how could they let a talent like Sainz go?

6. Pierre Gasly: The Victim of Verstappen’s Shadow Gasly’s rapid promotion in 2019 was a mistake that Red Bull would soon regret. Overwhelmed by the pressure, he was swiftly demoted after just half a season, only to find success elsewhere. The underlying message was clear: if you aren’t Max, your position is precarious at best.

7. Brendon Hartley: A Last Resort Hartley’s entry into F1, coming off a celebrated endurance racing career, was marred by a lack of clear purpose. His tenure exemplified a troubling truth: Red Bull’s junior program was faltering, leaving them to scrape the bottom of the barrel for talent.

8. Liam Lawson: A Brutal Reality Check Promoted in a panic to fill Tsunoda’s seat for the 2025 season, Lawson’s swift demotion after just two races raised alarm bells about Red Bull’s ability to assess driver potential. The team’s hasty decision-making revealed a disturbing trend of uncertainty and fear.

9. Nyck de Vries: The Impulsive Acquisition Bolstered by a standout performance, De Vries was signed only to be let go after ten races. Helmut Marko himself admitted it was a “big mistake.” This impulsive approach, devoid of patience or strategy, left Red Bull scrambling to regain its footing.

10. The Costly Stance on Stability Red Bull’s reluctance to bring back Sainz in 2025 due to internal politics with Verstappen is viewed as a monumental miscalculation. Choosing internal harmony over performance has led to a steep price, with the team now facing the decline of Perez, both financially and competitively.

The Bottom Line: A Legacy of Lost Potential Red Bull Racing may be a world champion today, but at what cost? A glaring pattern of broken careers and hasty decisions raises a critical question: Can this team still nurture and develop talent, or has it become a mere consumer of drivers? As 2026 approaches, with new faces and fresh challenges on the horizon, the racing world waits to see if Red Bull has truly learned from its tumultuous past—or if it is destined to repeat the same mistakes.

Tags: 1958-formula-1-season2025-football-seasonjaime-alguersuari-enmax-verstappen-enoracle-red-bull-racingScott Speed
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