The Red Bull Junior Team, commonly referred to as the Red Bull Driver Academy, is a driver development program run by the conglomerate company Red Bull GmbH in an attempt to identify potential future racing stars in open wheel racing. The similar Red Bull Driver Search, now ended, was an American spinoff of the same idea held in 2005. Members of the Junior Team are financed and sponsored by Red Bull in lower racing formulae.
The Red Bull Junior Team was formed in 2001 as Red Bull's European driver programme. Red Bull offers funding and support for the promising young drivers that are part of the programme. In 2004, Christian Klien became the first Red Bull Junior to race in Formula One, while in 2008, Sebastian Vettel became the first Red Bull Junior to win a Formula One Grand Prix, the Italian Grand Prix. Two years later, in 2010, Vettel became the first Red Bull Junior graduate to win the Formula One World Championship.
In 2024, Red Bull formed a separate program, called the Red Bull Ford Academy Programme, to support the team's F1 Academy drivers.
This list includes drivers who have graduated from the Junior Team to Toro Rosso/AlphaTauri/RB but have not raced for Red Bull Racing. Former Red Bull Junior Team drivers who have driven for Toro Rosso/AlphaTauri/RB and Red Bull Racing appear on the Graduates to Red Bull Racing table.
Daniil Kvyat – joined Toro Rosso for the 2014 season after claiming the GP3 title the previous year. Signed up to replace Sebastian Vettel at Red Bull for the 2015 season. Demoted to Scuderia Toro Rosso after the 2016 Russian GP, replaced with Max Verstappen. Replaced by Pierre Gasly at Toro Rosso for the 2018 season, joined Ferrari as test and reserve driver. Rejoined Toro Rosso for the 2019 season before being replaced again at the end of 2020.
Max Verstappen – joined Toro Rosso for 2015 after finishing third in the 2014 FIA Formula 3 European Championship, having been signed to the Red Bull programme midway through that season. Promoted to Red Bull Racing for the 2016 Spanish GP, which he won on debut. Became 2021, 2022, and 2023 Formula One World Drivers' Champion with Red Bull.
Pierre Gasly – debuted for Toro Rosso in the 2017 Malaysian GP after winning the 2016 GP2 Series. Joined Toro Rosso full time for the 2018 season. Promoted to Red Bull Racing for the 2019 season to replace Daniel Ricciardo. Demoted to Toro Rosso after the 2019 Hungarian GP.
Alexander Albon – re-signed by Red Bull ahead of the 2019 season to race for Toro Rosso after finishing third in the 2018 FIA Formula 2 Championship. Promoted to Red Bull Racing after the 2019 Hungarian GP, contract not renewed for 2021. Became a Red Bull test driver and joined their 2021 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters team. Returned to Formula One in 2022 with Williams.
Yuki Tsunoda – joined rebranded Scuderia AlphaTauri team for the 2021 season after coming third in Formula 2 the previous year.
As well as these, Red Bull has supported many up-and-coming young drivers:
Red Bull Driver Search was an American spin-off run from 2002 to 2005 in parallel with the Red Bull Junior Team. Its aim was "Searching for the future American F1 Champion". The winner was Scott Speed, who went on to compete in F1 in 2005 as a test driver for Red Bull.[citation needed]
Red Bull Academy Programme
In 2024, Red Bull set up the Red Bull Ford Academy Programme to support the team's F1 Academy drivers.[31][32] F1 Academy was founded by Formula One as a racing series aimed at developing and preparing young female drivers to progress to higher levels of competition.[33]
Red Bull Academy Programme drivers
Driver
Years
F1 Academy titles as Red Bull Academy Programme member
Ayumu Iwasa
Isack Hadjar 
Pepe Martí 
Oliver Goethe 
Arvid Lindblad 
Kacper Sztuka 
James Egozi 
Enzo Tarnvanichkul
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