Red Bull could sign F1 world champion’s son for their driver academy after ‘amazing’ karting results

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Red Bull are reportedly interested in signing Kimi Raikkonen’s son, Robin, for their young driver programme.

Raikkonen won the 2007 F1 world championship with Ferrari and retired from the sport in 2021, having previously taken a sabbatical in 2010 and 2011.

Red Bull superstar Max Verstappen is also the son of a former F1 driver, of course, so perhaps the team are looking to replicate that formula.

Red Bull ‘considering’ Robin Raikkonen offer

According to journalist Leo Turrini, writing his Profondo Rosso column, Raikkonen Jr has caught the eye by doing ‘amazing’ things in karting. He’s still only 11, but the word is that Red Bull are ‘considering’ him for a spot in their much-vaunted academy.

Red Bull didn’t sign Verstappen until he was a 16-year-old racing in Euro Formula 3. But Kimi Antonelli, F1’s newest star, was 12 when he joined the Mercedes programme.

Lewis Hamilton entered the McLaren-Mercedes sphere at the age of 13, while Sebastian Vettel was one of Red Bull’s youngest-ever signings at 11.

• READ MORE: Kimi Raikkonen recalls the exact moment he realised Max Verstappen was a ‘star’

Red Bull currently list nine members of their junior team on their website, including 15-year-old Formula 4 sensation Rocco Coronel and 14-year-old Ginetta talent Melvin Kalousdian.

Their next driver to graduate to F1 could be Nikola Tsolov, who is currently second in the F2 standings. A report on Tuesday claimed that Tsolov will join Racing Bulls next year, potentially at the expense of Liam Lawson.

Across F1 history, there have been 20 instances of a father and son racing in the sport. Most notably, Damon Hill and Nico Rosberg followed in the footsteps of their fathers, Graham and Keke, by winning world championships.

Raikkonen Sr has rarely been seen in F1 circles since his retirement, which is perhaps unsurprising given his famous aversion to the media.