Formula E star and former Red Bull junior driver Antonio Felix da Costa has said that the team’s junior programme is set for some environmental changes in its post-Helmut Marko era.
The Milton Keynes-based squad were left facing a big change after the end of the 2025 F1 season, with the 82-year-old Austrian’s decision to retire.
Marko had initially set up the junior programme himself, merging his junior racing team with the energy drinks brand in 1999, and was responsible for discovering a plethora of young talent.
The programme served Red Bull well, with many of its graduates making it to F1, including current drivers Alex Albon, Pierre Gasly, and former fans’ favourite Daniel Ricciardo.
But, of course, its primary successes were Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen, each winning four Drivers’ Championships as Red Bull drivers.
Da Costa was one of its graduates, narrowly missing out on a seat in F1, and subsequently went on to sportscar and FE success, becoming World Champion in both categories.
And the Portuguese, speaking exclusively to Motorsport Week ahead of the Daytona 24 Hours, praised both Marko and former Team Principal Christian Horner for their roles in producing the young drivers.
“Look, I think Helmut and Christian both have been very, very important for what that team has achieved in the last 20 years, 15 years, 20 years,” da Costa said.
The 34-year-old explained how the Red Bull programme set him up for the career he had, and still has, ahead of him, and whilst he believes it may undergo a change behind the scenes, backs Marko’s successor, Guillaume “Rocky” Rocquelin, to step up to the role.
“I was there for five of those years, and I learned a lot from them,” the Jaguar driver continued.
“I grew with them, it was a tough environment in a good way, you had to have thick skin to be able to cope with all of that, and I think that will change a little bit maybe, but maybe for the better.
“You know, drivers are getting into F1, the grassroots are bringing these kids younger and younger, and of course the more mature you are, the thicker your skin gets, and maybe there was a clash there at some point, and I know now it’s Rocky, he’s running the junior programme, and he used to be Vettel’s engineer when I was there, and he’s a great human being.
“He’s very clever, he knows what he’s doing, so I think that the junior programme is in good hands, but again, it’s not my place to talk on where the team’s going.”
Verstappen ‘looks happy’ with Red Bull changes ahead of 2026 F1 campaign
The team suffered in terms of competitiveness in comparison to McLaren in the early phases of the 2025 season, but its decision to continue developing the RB21 car enabled Max Verstappen to almost complete a memorable comeback, finishing two points off the title despite having been 104 behind in August.
Its upwards trajectory coincided with Lauren Mekies’ arrival as Horner’s replacement as its Team Principal, and the harmony within the team, speculated to have been fractured, has seemingly been restored.
Da Costa has remained on good terms with many of his fellow Red Bull alumni, including Verstappen, who committed to the team for 2026, after a summer of prolonged rumours about a potential switch to Mercedes.
And the 2020 FE World Champion who said he likes Mekies “a lot, I worked with him a little bit as well,” added that Verstappen appears content with the dynamic that is currently at the team.
“And I obviously know Max a little bit, and I think he looks happy with the changes that have been coming along, so I’m no one to judge, we’re just here to root for them,” he continued.
“I love Max, and I love watching that team succeed, so yeah, hopefully they get it going well now with the new regulations.”
READ MORE – Exclusive: ‘Real deal’ Arvid Lindblad backed for F1 success by ex-Red Bull junior
Discussion about this post