When Yuki Tsunoda begins the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, he’ll grow to be the 14th driver to compete for Crimson Bull Racing in a System 1 race. The strain can be immense not solely as a result of he is all of a sudden been promoted to the A-team, however add in the truth that he is changing Liam Lawson after simply two races and that that is all taking place round his dwelling race. In the long run, a factors end result could be passable, however the place would it not stack up towards previous Crimson Bull drivers of their first outing with the crew?
Beginning with Crimson Bull Racing’s inaugural season 20 years in the past, in 2005, this is the place the crew’s 13 earlier drivers positioned of their F1 debut — ordered from greatest to worse (primarily based on ending place):
Max Verstappen: 1st within the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix
Christian Horner, Staff Principal, Crimson Bull Racing, Daniel Ricciardo, Crimson Bull Racing, Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing, 1st Place, and the Crimson Bull crew rejoice his first and document breaking F1 win
Picture by: Andrew Hone / Motorsport Pictures
It ought to shock nobody that the four-time System 1 World Champion received in his very first begin with Crimson Bull. However simply to make it much more spectacular, it got here as a part of a mid-season swap with Verstappen changing Daniil Kvyat. This was the identical race the place the Silver Arrow struggle hit a fever pitch with Mercedes teammates Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg wrecking one another on the opening lap, paving the way in which for a Crimson Bull victory. At 18 years and 228 days outdated, Verstappen additionally made himself the youngest winner in F1 historical past.
David Coulthard: 4th within the 2005 Australian Grand Prix
David Coulthard
Picture by: Crimson Bull Racing
The veteran driver was a part of the unique driver lineup for Crimson Bull in its inaugural season. Coulthard put his decade of F1 expertise to good use, simply lacking out on a podium lead to Crimson Bull’s very first race as a company.
Alexander Albon: fifth within the 2019 Belgian Grand Prix
Alex Albon, Crimson Bull Racing
Picture by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Pictures
Albon was one other driver who joined the first crew mid-season, changing an underperforming Pierre Gasly. His fifth-place end was already higher than something Gasly had achieved within the earlier 12 races that yr. Albon additionally needed to begin deep within the discipline after the crew exceeded its quota for energy unit parts, and earned itself a penalty — forcing Albon to cost from seventeenth on the grid.
Christian Klien: seventh within the 2005 Australian Grand Prix
Christian Klien
Picture by: Crimson Bull Racing
Klien is a reputation most trendy F1 followers do not know, however he was partnered with Coulthard as a part of the unique driver lineup for Crimson Bull in 2005. The Austrian had a good outing, qualifying immediately behind his veteran teammate earlier than occurring to put seventh in a stable race.
Vitantonio Liuzzi: eighth within the 2005 San Marino Grand Prix
Vitantonio Liuzzi
Picture by: Crimson Bull Racing
Liuzzi shared the second Crimson Bull seat with Klien by the crew’s first season, however he ran solely 4 races in complete. His greatest exhibiting got here in his first race, qualifying immediately behind his veteran teammate Coulthard earlier than marching right into a points-paying place on race day.
Daniil Kvyat: ninth within the 2015 Malaysian GP
Daniil Kvyat, Crimson Bull Racing RB11
Picture by: Crimson Bull Content material Pool
Kvyat was imagined to make his debut within the season-opener in Melbourne, however a gearbox subject meant he by no means bought to begin the race. His precise debut got here within the second spherical of the yr on the Malaysian GP, ending ninth and beating teammate Daniel Ricciardo. Nevertheless, the junior crew with Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz beat each of the Crimson Bull drivers that day.
Pierre Gasly: eleventh within the 2019 Australian GP
Pierre Gasly, Crimson Bull Racing RB15
Picture by: Erik Junius
Gasly’s brief stint with Crimson Bull began in Australia, like so many others on this checklist. He began the weekend eradicated in Q1, and whereas he averted main drama in the course of the race, he failed to attain any factors whereas teammate Max Verstappen secured a podium end.
Robert Doornbos: twelfth within the 2006 Chinese language GP
Robert DoornbosRed Bull Raing with broken entrance wing at first of the race
Picture by: Mark Capilitan
A take a look at driver for a lot of the yr, Doornbos bought his shot in Shanghai after Klien was sacked by the crew. He out-qualified Coulthard, however ended up trailing him by three positions within the GP, ending one lap behind the race winner.
Sebastian Vettel: thirteenth (DNF) within the 2009 Australian GP
Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber F1.09, Sebastian Vettel, Crimson Bull Racing RB5 Renault
Picture by: Scott Wensley
What made Vettel such a novel case was the truth that he had already received a race with Crimson Bull’s sister crew earlier than he ever bought a shot with the first crew. Everybody knew he was a particular expertise after profitable a wet-weather race at Monza. And his end in Australia doesn’t mirror how he ran in any respect. Vettel certified third and was aggressive all through the day. Nevertheless, whereas battling to the within of Robert Kubica late within the occasion, Vettel collided with the side-pod of Kubica’s BMW Sauber, forcing each automobiles out of the race. They had been simply over two laps shy of the checkered flag and had been combating for second place on observe. However it all labored out okay for Vettel, who would go on to win 4 consecutive F1 titles between 2010 and 2013.
Mark Webber: thirteenth within the 2007 Australian GP
Mark Webber, Crimson Bull Racing RB3-Renault
Picture by: John Marsh / Motorsport Pictures
Webber moved from Williams to Crimson Bull forward of the 2007 season and alongside Coulthard, Crimson Bull had each drivers above the age of 30 on the crew in a extremely skilled driver lineup. Webber bested Coulthard in each qualifying and the race, inserting thirteenth within the Australian Grand Prix, mirroring Vettel’s ultimate end result, however the automotive did not have the velocity to run a lot better on the time.
Liam Lawson: fifteenth (DNF) within the 2025 Australian GP
Liam Lawson, Crimson Bull Racing
Picture by: James Sutton / Motorsport Pictures
Whereas dropping the seat after simply two races is extraordinarily harsh, Lawson’s first race with Crimson Bull was among the many worst of anybody on this checklist. He struggled with the automotive all weekend, qualifying 18th whereas Verstappen was up in third. The race wasn’t a lot better, although he did higher than among the different younger drivers within the tough circumstances. The high-attrition race noticed a number of retirements with Lawson’s automotive snapping round on him by Flip 1, hitting the skin wall after finishing 46 of 57 laps. He was the sixth and ultimate driver to retire from the race whereas Verstappen went on to complete second.
Sergio Perez: 18th (DNF) within the 2022 Bahrain GP
Sergio Perez, Crimson Bull Racing
Picture by: Erik Junius
Perez’s result’s a bit deceptive, as he was pretty sturdy all through your entire race weekend. He certified fourth and stayed there for a lot of the race. Nevertheless, Perez even jumped up into the ultimate podium place after Verstappen suffered a gas system subject simply three laps wanting the end. Shockingly, the identical drawback struck Perez on the ultimate lap, inflicting a double DNF.
Daniel Ricciardo: 2nd however DISQUALIFIED in 2014 Australian GP
Daniel Ricciardo, Crimson Bull Racing, 2nd Place, on the rostrum together with his trophy and champagne
Picture by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Pictures
Statistically talking, Ricciardo’s first begin with Crimson Bull was the ‘worst’ resulting from struggling a post-race DQ, however in reality, he was some of the spectacular drivers on debut. Ricciardo certified exterior on the entrance row and held sturdy all through the race, scoring a podium in entrance of his dwelling crowd and inserting second to race winner Lewis Hamilton. Nevertheless, the automotive was discovered to be in violation of F1’s technical laws. Per the 2014 laws, the gas couldn’t stream to the engine at a charge of greater than 100kg per hour, however Crimson Bull exceeded this allowance, leading to disqualification.
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