Max Verstappen is the latest driver to appear at F1's top table through Helmut Marko's Red Bull young driver programme, at 17 years old. Too young?
Red Bull's theory is that talent will out, in F1, at a young age. And it's hard to suggest that their first team has not benefited from the theory. They have two superb drivers...
But if you're a driver, is this a good idea? There are only 2 seats to aim for, and Red Bull seem not to easily vacate those. So what happens if you seem good enough but there's a glass ceiling.
Arguably 24-year-old Jean-Eric Vergne has proven his worth to a standard that merits a Red Bull drive, indeed he was closer to Daniel Ricciardo than Seb Vettel was. But his F1 career seems over already. Jaime Alguersuari was less talented and shoved aside at 22.
To prove yourself by your mid-20s is quite the hurdle! The growth shown by the likes of Felipe Massa or Jenson Button after 3 seasons could not have happened as Red Bull's newbies.
For a driver, do the others provide better? Ferrari's plan of loaning to lesser teams seems to have extended Perez' career, McLaren seem to give an opportunity in the full squad too.
I suspect the Red Bull program will continue to pay off for some, but lets hope Vergnes aren't abandoned by the rest in future.
Red Bull's theory is that talent will out, in F1, at a young age. And it's hard to suggest that their first team has not benefited from the theory. They have two superb drivers...
But if you're a driver, is this a good idea? There are only 2 seats to aim for, and Red Bull seem not to easily vacate those. So what happens if you seem good enough but there's a glass ceiling.
Arguably 24-year-old Jean-Eric Vergne has proven his worth to a standard that merits a Red Bull drive, indeed he was closer to Daniel Ricciardo than Seb Vettel was. But his F1 career seems over already. Jaime Alguersuari was less talented and shoved aside at 22.
To prove yourself by your mid-20s is quite the hurdle! The growth shown by the likes of Felipe Massa or Jenson Button after 3 seasons could not have happened as Red Bull's newbies.
For a driver, do the others provide better? Ferrari's plan of loaning to lesser teams seems to have extended Perez' career, McLaren seem to give an opportunity in the full squad too.
I suspect the Red Bull program will continue to pay off for some, but lets hope Vergnes aren't abandoned by the rest in future.