Comparing the First Outings of Red Bull Racing’s Drivers

As Yuki Tsunoda prepares for the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, he will join an elite group of drivers who have competed for Red Bull Racing in a Formula 1 race. With the pressure mounting due to his sudden promotion to the A-team and replacing Liam Lawson after just two races, let’s take a look at how past Red Bull drivers fared in their first outings with the team.

The Best Debut Performance – Max Verstappen

It’s no surprise that Max Verstappen tops this list. In his very first start with Red Bull, he won the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix at just 18 years and 228 days old, making him the youngest winner in F1 history.

Strong Debuts – David Coulthard, Sergio Perez, Alexander Albon, Christian Klien, Vitantonio Liuzzi

These drivers all had respectable debuts with Red Bull Racing. David Coulthard finished 4th in the 2005 Australian Grand Prix, while Sergio Perez and Alexander Albon both placed 5th in their respective races. Christian Klien and Vitantonio Liuzzi also had solid outings, finishing 7th and 8th respectively in their debuts.

Mid-Pack Debuts – Daniil Kvyat, Pierre Gasly, Robert Doornbos

These drivers finished in the mid-pack in their first races with Red Bull Racing. Daniil Kvyat placed 9th in the 2015 Malaysian Grand Prix, while Pierre Gasly finished 11th in the 2019 Australian Grand Prix. Robert Doornbos finished 12th in the 2006 Chinese Grand Prix.

Difficult Debuts – Sebastian Vettel, Mark Webber, Liam Lawson

These drivers had more challenging debuts with Red Bull Racing. Sebastian Vettel retired from the 2009 Australian Grand Prix due to a collision, while Mark Webber finished 13th in the same race. Liam Lawson failed to finish the 2025 Australian Grand Prix after retiring due to an accident.

Disqualified Debut – Daniel Ricciardo

Despite finishing second in his first race with Red Bull Racing, Daniel Ricciardo was disqualified due to a technical infraction. However, he still put on an impressive performance and is considered one of the most impressive drivers on debut for the team.