(Motorsport-Total.com) – Red Bull is investing early in the next generation: The racing team has included Robin Räikkönen, the eleven-year-old son of Formula 1 World Champion Kimi Räikkönen, in its junior program. Laurent Mekies explains what Red Bull has recognized in the young kart driver – and why the signing was by no means without basis despite his age.
Read more When George Russell will serve his engine penalty
Mekies first emphasizes that talent evaluation for an eleven-year-old driver is always associated with uncertainty. “No one has a crystal ball when it comes to an eleven-year-old boy or girl. So we are aware that it is very difficult to recognize talent at such an early age,” said the Red Bull team principal in an interview with Sky.
However, there were several points with Robin Räikkönen that convinced the racing team. First and foremost are his previous results. “He has already achieved some quite significant successes in karting and in the classes he has competed in at this young age,” explains Mekies. Red Bull has therefore been closely monitoring his development for several months and has been impressed by his early successes.
Red Bull sees advantages through Kimi Räikkönen
Even more important than the previous results for Red Bull is the way Kimi Räikkönen introduces his son to motorsport. Robin thus gets the opportunity to gain early experience with different vehicles and on various surfaces.
“Through the way Kimi takes care of him, Robin gets many opportunities to drive very different vehicles on very different surfaces,” says Mekies. This very approach can enable an interesting development path at such a young age.
For Red Bull, this creates a combination that was decisive for the signing. “We believe that such an approach, if pursued at this young age, offers a really interesting combination and an interesting development path for children,” explains the Frenchman.
Read more Lewis Hamilton clarifies: Never demanded number 1 status from Ferrari
He explicitly highlights Kimi Räikkönen’s role. His approach and the discipline with which the former Formula 1 World Champion accompanies his son’s development additionally convinced Red Bull.
Mekies: “Enormous potential”
“These two things together and also Kimi’s approach as well as the discipline with which Kimi accompanies Robin’s development have given us the confidence that there is enormous potential there, whose development we can support,” Mekies continues.
When asked if Robin talks more than his father, Mekies has to disagree. “I won’t say that he is particularly talkative, because he is not,” says the Frenchman. Instead, he describes the young Räikkönen as extremely focused.
“He is definitely extremely focused and eager to learn. He listens and tries to absorb everything like a sponge,” explains Mekies. From his point of view, these exact qualities fit the requirement profile of the Red Bull junior program.
“So we believe he brings all the good qualities we are looking for.” Red Bull is thus investing early in another talented young driver – and already sees enough indications in Robin Räikkönen today to want to accompany his further development.
Read more This is how the first Formula 1 practice in Madrid went: Russell fastest ahead of Antonelli