Red Bull has become synonymous with ruthless leadership, changing drivers without a second thought in their merciless pursuit of glory, and the problems behind Red Bull’s second seat began with the team itself.
While it’s easy to look at the more recent examples of this following Daniel Riccardo’s departure from the Milton Keynes team in 2018. This was far from the first time Red Bull had more drivers than available seats.
Back in 2005 when Red Bull began their Formula 1 journey. They started, what they didn’t realise at the time would be, a dangerous pattern. While ex-McLaren driver, David Coulthard, led the charge in the team as the experienced head behind the wheel of the Cosworth engine powered Red Bull. The second seat was shared.
The second seat was split between two of the Red Bull Junior drivers, Christian Klien and Vitantonio Liuzzi. With the orignal plan being to swap the two drivers every four races. Klien was the more experienced driver in the duo, having competed in F1 the year befor with Jaguar. Liuzzi was the 2004 F3000 champion.
With both drivers being seen as ‘rookies,’ the decision was Christian Horner and Red Bull’s way of comparing their performances against the much more experienced David Coulthard. With the implication being that the more successful of the two retained a full-time drive for 2006.
To allow the team to directly test both drivers at the same time, whichever driver wasn’t in the seat was allowed to run on Friday in a third car. As per regulations allowed.
Something that is eerily similar to the current Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson situation. Much like the current situation, pre-season tests had been conducted to decide who would start the season.
Klien’s chance
With Klien coming out ahead and beginning the 2005 season in the Red Bull racing seat.
Christian Klien’s season started impressively. With a season under his belt, he had the advantage that Luizzi didn’t. Klien managed two points finishes in the first two races with a seventh and eighth place in Australia and Malaysia.
However, his luck ended in Bahrain when he retired with an electrical problem before the race began.
For the fourth race in San Marino, Red Bull announced the first swap between Klien and Luizzi. Although the drivers had expected this coming into the season – Klien wasn’t happy. He had expressed to media at the time that he was ‘totally disappointed’ after he felt as though he had a strong start.
At the time some argued that with Klien suffering an electrical issue out of his hands at Bahrain. Therefore, he should’ve had another race to prove himself – Red Bull pushed on.
With Luizzi’s turn coming, it was seen as his opportunity to retain the seat beyond the scheduled three races. Red Bull being able to see both drivers in action would give them a better idea of who would bring the best results.
Luizzi’s chance
Vitantonio Luizzi had high expectation being seen as the driver with the higher potential between him and Klien. However, without Klien’s experience he needed to get used to the RB1 quickly.
While Luizzi was behind the wheel of the Red Bull come Sunday. The deal allowed Klien to take part in the Friday practice sessions as a third car, keeping up to speed with the RB1.
In San Marino, Luizzi managed to make it points on debut after both BAR drivers were disqualified. However, that would be his last points placement in his trial.
The Spanish Grand Prix started strong for the Italian, qualifying 11th. However, on Sunday he spun off on Lap 11 and was forced to retire. Missing out on vital points due to a driver error. His errors continued into Monaco where after qualifying 12th he had an accident on lap 59. Leaving him with nothing to show.
With Klien looming on the sidelines every mistake from Luizzi increased the pressure. Although his three races were up following Monaco. He was given a final chance in the European Grand Prix to prove himself.
It was a stronger weekend at the European Grand Prix for Luizzi qualifying 14th and fighting his way to ninth. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough to convince Red Bull and the European Grand Prix was his final race in the Red Bull. Klien taking the seat from the Canadian Grand Prix onwards.
The results
Klien went on to achieve three more points finishes in Canada, Turkey and China ending his season in 15th with nine points to his name.
Luckily for Luizzi, Red Bull purchased Minardi, which became Scuderia Torro Rosso – the famed Red Bull ‘B team’. This team has since changed identities but remained almost completely steadfast in its aim of hosuing the Red Bull junior drivers.
The legacy of this decision has forever infiltrated the way Red Bull runs their junior team and the way they view their second seat.
Although under the Sebastian Vettel era of Red Bull it felt as though the team had figured out how to maintain two strong drivers. It quickly devolved. Much like with Vettel and Webber, Red Bull find themselves in a similar situation again. Eagerly trying to find a driver to match their four-time world champion.
However, there has been no indication that Red Bull would swap Tsunoda and Lawson again if Tsunoda also finds himself at the back of the grid. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that Luizzi and Klien are the blueprint for Red Bull’s 2025 season.
