Rocco Coronel has been selected for the Red Bull Junior Team
We already met father and son Tom and Rocco Coronel together in the paddock during the F1 Grand Prix at Zandvoort, but now it turns out that good conversations were also held there: 13-year-old Rocco Coronel has been included in the Red Bull Junior Team as the youngest Dutch driver ever. The Austrian soft drinks giant just announced this. The youngest member of the famous racing family managed to convince during a shoot-out at the Jerez circuit. He will remain active in karting next year, with an additional program. From 2026 he will be old enough to start in Formula 4.
Text: René de Boer (X: @renedeboer)
Photos: Red Bull Content Pool, Rebocar/R. the Farmer
It was no coincidence that we met Tom and Rocco Coronel in the Formula 1 paddock at Zandvoort
Rocco Coronel has made a name for himself in various international karting competitions in recent years and was invited to the Red Bull Driver Search, which took place in Jerez last month, partly on the basis of these performances. At 13, he was one of the youngest of a total of eleven participants in the 13 to 16 age group, originating from France, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Lebanon, Mexico and Sweden. Earlier, Irishman Fionn McLaughlin and Swede Scott Lindblom had already been confirmed as new Red Bull juniors. Coronel is one of a quartet of drivers who will also be added to the line-up, together with Lebanese Christopher Feghali, Frenchman Jules Caranta and Mexican Ernesto Rivera.
The test saw the drivers drive Formula 4 and GP3 cars, with Red Bull F1 team advisor Dr Helmut Marko assessing their performance. This included looking at their out-of-car performance, including interviews and data analysis.
“It is a great honour for me to have been selected for the Red Bull Junior Team,” says Coronel. “Of course it is my dream to reach Formula 1 and with this opportunity that dream becomes a bit more realistic. I have always followed the Red Bull drivers and have seen how they have developed in the sport. Now I will become one of them.” As a member of the Red Bull Junior Team, Rocco Coronel can count on extensive support, including in the areas of nutrition and fitness, but also in the form of simulator sessions.
Father Tom Coronel, who coached his son in karting, is of course proud: “I am sometimes surprised at how quickly he is developing. Of course he still makes mistakes, and that’s okay. What do you expect, he is only 13! He remains very level-headed about it all. I think it is great to coach and guide him, even though my own activities are on the back burner because of it.” Tom Coronel also showed that he can still really push the envelope last Saturday when he and his teammates finished second in the 992 Endurance Cup, a 12-hour race for Porsches on the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.
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Rocco Coronel Joins Red Bull Junior Team: A Dream Come True for the 13-Year-Old Karting Sensation
In an exciting development in the world of motorsports, 13-year-old Rocco Coronel has been selected to join the prestigious Red Bull Junior Team. This announcement was made by Red Bull itself, confirming that Coronel will become the youngest Dutch driver to ever join the team [[1]]. Coronel, son of racing driver Tom Coronel, has already made a name for himself in international karting competitions and has now taken a significant step towards realizing his dream of reaching Formula 1.
The Road to Red Bull Junior Team
Coronel’s journey to the Red Bull Junior Team began when he was invited to participate in the Red Bull Driver Search, which took place at the Jerez circuit last month. Alongside 10 other talented young drivers from France, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Lebanon, Mexico, and Sweden, Coronel showcased his skills behind the wheel of Formula 4 and GP3 cars. The test also assessed the drivers’ out-of-car performance, including their abilities in interviews and data analysis [[2]].
Dr. Helmut Marko, Red Bull F1 team advisor, was impressed by Coronel’s performance, leading to his selection as one of the four new drivers to join the Red Bull Junior Team. Coronel will be joined by Lebanese Christopher Feghali, Frenchman Jules Caranta, and Mexican Ernesto Rivera in the team [[3]].
A Bright Future Ahead
As a member of the Red Bull Junior Team, Coronel can look forward to extensive support in various areas, including nutrition, fitness, and simulator sessions. This opportunity will undoubtedly help him develop his skills and prepare him for the challenges of professional racing.
Coronel’s father, Tom, has been a regular fixture in the F1 paddock, and it was no coincidence that they were spotted together at the F1 Grand Prix at Zandvoort. The young driver’s selection to the Red Bull Junior Team is a testament to his hard work and dedication to the sport.
In his own words, Coronel expressed his gratitude and excitement about joining the Red Bull Junior Team, stating, “It is a great honour for me to have been selected for the Red Bull Junior Team. Of course, it is my dream to reach Formula 1, and with this opportunity, that dream becomes a bit more realistic.”
With this milestone achieved, Coronel will continue to compete in karting next year, with an additional program. From 2026, he will be old enough to start racing in Formula 4, marking the next stage in his journey towards the top of the motorsport ladder.
Congratulations to Rocco Coronel on this fantastic achievement, and we wish him all the best as he embarks on this exciting new chapter in his racing career.
References:
– What does joining the Red Bull Junior Team mean for Rocco Coronel’s future in motorsports?
Rocco Coronel Joins Red Bull Junior Team: A Dream Come True for the 13-Year-Old Karting Sensation
In an exciting development in the world of motorsports, 13-year-old Rocco Coronel has been selected to join the prestigious Red Bull Junior Team. This announcement was made by Red Bull itself, confirming that Coronel will become the youngest Dutch driver to ever join the team [[1]]. Coronel, son of racing driver Tom Coronel, has already made a name for himself in international karting competitions and has now taken a significant step towards realizing his dream of reaching Formula 1.
The Road to Red Bull Junior Team
Coronel’s journey to the Red Bull Junior Team began when he was invited to participate in the Red Bull Driver Search, which took place at the Jerez circuit last month. Alongside 10 other talented young drivers
