Verstappen, Ricciardo and Perez pick their favourite Red Bull moment
- Jeroen Immink
With Red Bull's 20th anniversary, the Austrian racing teams enjoyed a wonderful day at the Goodwood Festival of Speed looking back at their past seasons. Red Bull also produced a podcast featuring several (former) Red Bull drivers. There, Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo and Sergio Perez discuss their highlights within the Red Bull family.
Sergio Perez
"I would say everything. I wouldn't choose just one moment. Every single experience I had with the team, the highs and lows. At Red Bull, something that is unique is that they everything out of you. Everyone is giving everything on a personal, on a professional level. It goes through the whole organisation. For me the most impressive thing is to be part of Red Bull culture and something I have enjoyed that," Perez reveals in the Red Bull podcast.
Perez joined Red Bull in 2021 as Alexander Albon's replacement. The Mexican managed to win five races during that period. His best position in the driver standings was P2 in 2023.
Daniel Ricciardo
"It's hard. Coming up as a junior driver, go through it and having that support. Having Helmut (Marko) a lot of the time, pushing me and trying to get the best out of me. Very early [phone calls with Marko]. Early enough that you are still in bed. It was always scary. It helps so much especially as a junior to go through that, and I look back at it now and wouldn't have it any other way. Being on the grid at Melbourne at my home race as a Red Bull Racing driver, that was very special moment," Ricciardo said.
Ricciardo drove at Toro Rosso in 2012 and 2013 and was then promoted to Red Bull as Mark Webber's replacement. In his first season in 2014, the Australian beat four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel. In five seasons at Red Bull, Ricciardo picked up seven GP victories. After 2018, Ricciardo left Red Bull for an adventure at Renault. After being left without a team in 2023 due to his dismissal from McLaren, Ricciardo became a reserve driver at Red Bull and replaced Nyck de Vries at AlphaTauri mid-season.
Max Verstappen
"First race win and first championship. First race win, I just got promoted to the team. Also for Helmut Marko at the time he felt really happy, it was his decision to promote me. The first title together, it was very emotional. After such a year, which was very difficult on everyone. There's moments I will never forget that. And just the general relationship I have with the team, it definitely feels like a second family and I can really be myself," Verstappen said.
Verstappen made his Formula 1 debut in 2015 at Toro Rosso and was immediately moved on to Red Bull in 2016 after five races as Daniil Kvyat's replacement. There, he surprised friend and foe by winning the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona in his debut. This made him the youngest ever winner in Formula 1. In 2021, Verstappen took his first world title after a long and intense battle with Lewis Hamilton. Meanwhile, the Dutchman has no less than 61 victories behind his name at Red Bull and is heading for his fourth world title in a row.