Red Bull has had an extensive junior programme for many years in which many drivers manage to find their way to the higher classes of motorsport. In Formula 1 these include Max Verstappen, Pierre Gasly and Daniil Kvyat, but Red Bull drivers are also doing well in other classes.
Examples of Red Bull drivers' success stories in other disciplines are Jean-Eric Vergne (double Formula E champion) and Sebastien Buemi (triple winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans). However, when Christian Horner is asked on Motorsport.com which Red Bull junior he regrets never drove at Red Bull Racing, another name comes up; Antonio Felix da Costa. “I think that maybe it would have been interesting to see what he could have done in a Formula 1 car, but that opportunity never really presented itself.”
Da Costa became a Formula E champion this season and came second in the LMP2 class at Le Mans last month. Between 2010 and 2013 Da Costa drove a few Formula 1 tests for Red Bull and Force India, but for 2014 the choice of Torro Rosso at Kvyat was at Da Costa's expense. Despite the fact that not every Red Bull driver makes it to Formula 1, Horner remains proud of the training programme. “I think the great thing is that Red Bull have given this opportunity to so many guys out there.”