Red Bull have recently signed a 13-year-old talent named Rocco Coronel into their junior driver program. Having previously deemed him “too young”, Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko seems to be quite impressed with Rocco. The Austrian went as far as deeming him a potential successor to Max Verstappen.
In 2024, speculations have been rife about Verstappen potentially leaving Red Bull amid the chaos that has unfolded at the Milton Keynes outfit both on and off the track. While the Dutchman has a long-term contract till 2028, there have been rumors about him heading to teams like Mercedes and Aston Martin in 2026.
If Verstappen does indeed take such a big decision, Red Bull will be in a tough situation to fill the three-time champion’s vacuum in both the short and long term. While Rocco is still very young and still in karting, Marko feels the 13-year-old has qualities similar to Verstappen.
As quoted on Twitter (now X), the 81-year-old told Viaplay, “We were surprised with Rocco. He’s 13, so younger than we started with Max. He is quite mature, has confidence, and quite a dominant father [Tom Coronel]. That seems to be a Dutch thing… So, if one day Max retires, maybe now we have his successor.“
helmut marko: we were surprised with rocco. he’s 13, so younger than we started with max .. he is quite mature, has confidence and quite a dominant father. that seems to be a dutch thing … so if one day max retires, maybe now we have his successor.
wow okay, what a statement pic.twitter.com/y4aoPpg44Q
— nini (@SCUDERIAFEMBOY) September 13, 2024
While Verstappen has suggested considering retirement after his current contract expires in 2028, that is still four years away. So, Red Bull have time to groom the 13-year-old as their next big superstar, just like they did with Verstappen.
Rocco Coronel belongs to a family of racers
Rocco’s father, Tom Coronel, is also a motorsport veteran. Tom has raced in Touring Car categories, Endurance racing categories, and several formula racing categories too across the world.
In the 90s, he won several championships in these categories. More recently, he won the 2023 TCR Europe Touring Car series. Tom’s twin brother, Tim, and their father, Tom Coronel Sr, were also racers.
So, Tom Coronel Jr has a wealth of experience to train his son. And he is utilizing it to the fullest by guiding Rocco during his karting campaigns. Having been a Verstappen and Red Bull supporter, Tom would have been delighted to see his son getting into the Austrian team’s junior academy.
Rocco took part in a three-day test in Jerez where his selection as a Red Bull academy driver happened. He drove a Formula 4 and a GP3 car to impress the selection panel. The 13-year-old expressed his gratitude toward this opportunity by saying, “It is a great honor for me to have been selected for the Red Bull Junior Team.”
Rocco Coronel has signed with the Red Bull Junior Team
The 13-year-old Dutch driver made a strong impression with his performance in the F4 car such that he was given the opportunity to test a GP3 car the following day
[https://t.co/AbWcbZI3ne] pic.twitter.com/XdDcyGwxOb
— RBR Daily (@RBR_Daily) September 11, 2024
He stated his dream is naturally to reach F1, so Red Bull taking him under their wing makes it more realistic. While he is still years away from foraying into F4 and other feeder series, Rocco is quite mature and knows the significance of being a Red Bull driver.
“I have always followed the Red Bull drivers and seen how they have developed in the sport. Now I will become one of them”, he added per Tracksidelegends.com.
