When Yuki Tsunoda begins the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, he’ll grow to be the 14th driver to compete for Pink Bull Racing in a Components 1 race. The strain can be immense not solely as a result of he is out of the blue been promoted to the A-team, however add in the truth that he is changing Liam Lawson after simply two races and that that is all taking place round his residence race. Ultimately, a factors end result can be passable, however the place would it not stack up in opposition to previous Pink Bull drivers of their first outing with the crew?
Beginning with Pink Bull Racing’s inaugural season 20 years in the past, in 2005, this is the place the crew’s 13 earlier drivers positioned of their F1 debut — ordered from greatest to worse (based mostly on ending place):
Max Verstappen: 1st within the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix
Christian Horner, Staff Principal, Pink Bull Racing, Daniel Ricciardo, Pink Bull Racing, Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing, 1st Place, and the Pink Bull crew have a good time his first and report breaking F1 win
Photograph by: Andrew Hone / Motorsport Photos
It ought to shock nobody that the four-time Components 1 World Champion received in his very first begin with Pink Bull. However simply to make it much more spectacular, it got here as a part of a mid-season swap with Verstappen changing Daniil Kvyat. This was the identical race the place the Silver Arrow conflict hit a fever pitch with Mercedes teammates Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg wrecking one another on the opening lap, paving the way in which for a Pink Bull victory. At 18 years and 228 days outdated, Verstappen additionally made himself the youngest winner in F1 historical past.
David Coulthard: 4th within the 2005 Australian Grand Prix
David Coulthard
Photograph by: Pink Bull Racing
The veteran driver was a part of the unique driver lineup for Pink Bull in its inaugural season. Coulthard put his decade of F1 expertise to good use, simply lacking out on a podium lead to Pink Bull’s very first race as a company.
Alexander Albon: fifth within the 2019 Belgian Grand Prix
Alex Albon, Pink Bull Racing
Photograph by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Photos
Albon was one other driver who joined the first crew mid-season, changing an underperforming Pierre Gasly. His fifth-place end was already higher than something Gasly had completed within the earlier 12 races that 12 months. Albon additionally needed to begin deep within the discipline after the crew exceeded its quota for energy unit parts, and earned itself a penalty — forcing Albon to cost from seventeenth on the grid.
Christian Klien: seventh within the 2005 Australian Grand Prix
Christian Klien
Photograph by: Pink Bull Racing
Klien is a reputation most trendy F1 followers do not know, however he was partnered with Coulthard as a part of the unique driver lineup for Pink Bull in 2005. The Austrian had a good outing, qualifying straight behind his veteran teammate earlier than happening to put seventh in a strong race.
Vitantonio Liuzzi: eighth within the 2005 San Marino Grand Prix
Vitantonio Liuzzi
Photograph by: Pink Bull Racing
Liuzzi shared the second Pink Bull seat with Klien by means of the crew’s first season, however he ran solely 4 races in whole. His greatest displaying got here in his first race, qualifying straight behind his veteran teammate Coulthard earlier than marching right into a points-paying place on race day.
Daniil Kvyat: ninth within the 2015 Malaysian GP
Daniil Kvyat, Pink Bull Racing RB11
Photograph by: Pink Bull Content material Pool
Kvyat was alleged to make his debut within the season-opener in Melbourne, however a gearbox subject meant he by no means received to begin the race. His precise debut got here within the second spherical of the 12 months on the Malaysian GP, ending ninth and beating teammate Daniel Ricciardo. Nevertheless, the junior crew with Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz beat each of the Pink Bull drivers that day.
Pierre Gasly: eleventh within the 2019 Australian GP
Pierre Gasly, Pink Bull Racing RB15
Photograph by: Erik Junius
Gasly’s brief stint with Pink Bull began in Australia, like so many others on this checklist. He began the weekend eradicated in Q1, and whereas he prevented main drama through the race, he failed to attain any factors whereas teammate Max Verstappen secured a podium end.
Robert Doornbos: twelfth within the 2006 Chinese language GP
Robert DoornbosRed Bull Raing with broken entrance wing in the beginning of the race
Photograph by: Mark Capilitan
A take a look at driver for a lot of the 12 months, Doornbos received his shot in Shanghai after Klien was sacked by the crew. He out-qualified Coulthard, however ended up trailing him by three positions within the GP, ending one lap behind the race winner.
Sebastian Vettel: thirteenth (DNF) within the 2009 Australian GP
Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber F1.09, Sebastian Vettel, Pink Bull Racing RB5 Renault
Photograph by: Scott Wensley
What made Vettel such a singular case was the truth that he had already received a race with Pink Bull’s sister crew earlier than he ever received a shot with the first crew. Everybody knew he was a particular expertise after profitable a wet-weather race at Monza. And his end in Australia doesn’t replicate how he ran in any respect. Vettel certified third and was aggressive all through the day. Nevertheless, whereas battling to the within of Robert Kubica late within the occasion, Vettel collided with the side-pod of Kubica’s BMW Sauber, forcing each automobiles out of the race. They have been simply over two laps shy of the checkered flag and have been preventing for second place on observe. Nevertheless it all labored out okay for Vettel, who would go on to win 4 consecutive F1 titles between 2010 and 2013.
Mark Webber: thirteenth within the 2007 Australian GP
Mark Webber, Pink Bull Racing RB3-Renault
Photograph by: John Marsh / Motorsport Photos
Webber moved from Williams to Pink Bull forward of the 2007 season and alongside Coulthard, Pink Bull had each drivers above the age of 30 on the crew in a extremely skilled driver lineup. Webber bested Coulthard in each qualifying and the race, putting thirteenth within the Australian Grand Prix, mirroring Vettel’s closing end result, however the automobile did not have the pace to run a lot better on the time.
Liam Lawson: fifteenth (DNF) within the 2025 Australian GP
Liam Lawson, Pink Bull Racing
Photograph by: James Sutton / Motorsport Photos
Whereas shedding the seat after simply two races is extraordinarily harsh, Lawson’s first race with Pink Bull was among the many worst of anybody on this checklist. He struggled with the automobile all weekend, qualifying 18th whereas Verstappen was up in third. The race wasn’t a lot better, although he did higher than a few of the different younger drivers within the tough situations. The high-attrition race noticed a number of retirements with Lawson’s automobile snapping round on him by means of Flip 1, hitting the surface wall after finishing 46 of 57 laps. He was the sixth and closing driver to retire from the race whereas Verstappen went on to complete second.
Sergio Perez: 18th (DNF) within the 2022 Bahrain GP
Sergio Perez, Pink Bull Racing
Photograph by: Erik Junius
Perez’s result’s a bit deceptive, as he was pretty robust all through all the race weekend. He certified fourth and stayed there for a lot of the race. Nevertheless, Perez even jumped up into the ultimate podium place after Verstappen suffered a gasoline system subject simply three laps wanting the end. Shockingly, the identical drawback struck Perez on the ultimate lap, inflicting a double DNF.
Daniel Ricciardo: 2nd however DISQUALIFIED in 2014 Australian GP
Daniel Ricciardo, Pink Bull Racing, 2nd Place, on the rostrum together with his trophy and champagne
Photograph by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Photos
Statistically talking, Ricciardo’s first begin with Pink Bull was the ‘worst’ because of struggling a post-race DQ, however in reality, he was one of the spectacular drivers on debut. Ricciardo certified exterior on the entrance row and held robust all through the race, scoring a podium in entrance of his residence crowd and putting second to race winner Lewis Hamilton. Nevertheless, the automobile was discovered to be in violation of F1’s technical rules. Per the 2014 rules, the gasoline couldn’t circulate to the engine at a charge of greater than 100kg per hour, however Pink Bull exceeded this allowance, leading to disqualification.
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