46-race F1 driver used to feel ‘sick’ every time he returned to be paddock after being dropped by Red Bull

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Red Bull have a rich history of promoting talent to Formula 1 and have helped to produce two of the greatest drivers of all time in the last 20 years.

The brutal nature of running an academy means that for every driver who enjoys success, there is usually one that Red Bull has to let down.

In 2023, they let go of three juniors at the same time as Formula 2 stars Enzo Fittipaldi and Zane Maloney, as well as Kacper Sztuka were all dismissed.

They will have one of Formula 1’s six new rookies in 2025, with Isack Hadjar set to race for the Visa Cash App Racing Bulls outfit.

The team was known as Toro Rosso before the first of multiple name changes in 2020. Jaime Alguersuari was one of the drivers who raced for them between 2009 and 2011.

At one stage in his career, he was the youngest driver in the history of the sport. Now he’s fourth on that list behind Oliver Bearman, Max Verstappen, and Lance Stroll.

Jaime Alguersuari felt ‘sick’ when he returned to an F1 track after Red Bull axe

Alguersauri loves Red Bull’s ‘most beautiful’ F1 car and Max Verstappen nowadays, but 15 years ago, he was gearing up for his first full-time season in the sport.

Considered one of the most exciting prospects in the world at the time, performing well may have seen him get the opportunity to partner Sebastian Vettel at Red Bull in the future.

Instead, he fell off the grid after 2011 and gave up on hopes of returning by 2013. He has continued to cheer on his fellow countrymen though, with Alguersuari admitting Carlos Sainz is more mature than Fernando Alonso.

READ MORE: Jaime Alguersuari points to key signing that convinced Adrian Newey to join Aston Martin

Speaking to Motorsport-Total in 2021, he admitted that returning to a Formula 1 circuit after being dropped was really difficult for him.

“I tried to work in Formula 1 for Movistar as a commentator, but as soon as we went to the track I was sick, I wasn’t happy to be there,” he said.

“It wasn’t my place at that moment, after all, I was only 23 years old. At that point, I was clinging to a great fortune that I’ve always had: a passion for music.”

Why did Jaime Alguersuari give up on Formula 1 after leaving Toro Rosso?

A big reason why Alguersuari never returned to Formula 1 was that he had fallen out of love with motorsport and no longer had the desire to race.

He did embark on a new journey with Formula E in 2014/15, competing in nine races on his way to a 13th place finish in the drivers’ championship – better than he ever managed in Formula 1.

READ MORE: Jaime Alguersuari has just made Lewis Hamilton ‘have fun’ claim that will really worry Ferrari fans

His days of competition were effectively over after that, and he turned to being a DJ. A return to karting in 2021 saw him compete in the Spanish karting championship with mild success.

Alguersuari officially retired from motorsport in 2015, and it’s strange to think that the Spaniard is still five years younger than Lewis Hamilton – who is embarking on a new journey with Ferrari this year.