Rocco Coronel, a 13-year-old racer, has been accepted into Red Bull’s training program, as announced on Wednesday afternoon. Coronel made a significant impression this summer during a special shoot-out with other prospective Red Bull talents at the Jerez circuit in Spain. His father, Tom Coronel, expressed relief that Rocco has found a new partner for his racing career. “This is just the beginning,” he emphasized.
Rocco Coronel is already active on the world stage of karting, but can now also call himself a Red Bull junior. The 13-year-old Dutchman recently joined the Austrian’s training program. This followed a three-day shoot-out in Spain, where the young talent competed against other, sometimes much older, racers. Coronel made a big impression in the Formula 4 cars and later proved himself again in the more powerful GP3 vehicles.
“It is a great honor for me to be chosen for the Red Bull Junior Team,” says the young racer in an official press release. “Of course, it is my dream to reach Formula 1, and with this opportunity, that dream becomes a bit more realistic. I have always followed the Red Bull drivers and seen how they have developed in the sport. Now I am becoming one of them.”
Rocco’s Journey to Red Bull
“Rocco was invited to Jerez in August along with eleven others,” Rocco’s father, Tom Coronel, shares. “I said then, ‘Guys, I think it’s a bit early, he’s only thirteen!’ But Red Bull wanted to see his progress.” Rocco’s laps in the Formula 4 and GP3 cars were impressive; not long after, Tom Coronel was sitting at the table with Helmut Marko. “I submitted a plan. We went over it again during the race weekend in Zandvoort, and then the deal was essentially sealed.”
A Tough Learning Curve
Tom Coronel is primarily ‘relieved’ that his son Rocco has a new partner for the next step in his career. He knows better than anyone that the Formula sport can be a harsh world. The fact that he can partly leave his son’s training to Red Bull is a welcome advantage. “It’s a tough learning curve,” he explains. “More people are sent away than are added. Rightly so, I think, if you don’t perform, why should they continue with you?”
Rocco Coronel Receives Extra Support in Red Bull Training Program
Within Red Bull’s training program, Rocco Coronel can count on additional support. This includes expert advice and simulator tests, as well as guidance in fitness and nutrition. The young driver is still too young to actually progress to Formula 4, so he will continue to participate in the world’s most important kart championships in the coming years.
Tom Coronel’s Perspective on the Red Bull Collaboration
However, Tom Coronel does not yet see the collaboration with Red Bull as a major victory. “This is just the beginning,” he emphasizes. “I’m glad I’ve found a partner for this adventure, but of course we’re already looking much further. That’s just how it works in this sport. You actually have to constantly tackle problems that you might only encounter in a few years,” he concludes. In addition to Rocco Coronel, Lebanese Christopher Feghali (15), Frenchman Jules Caranta (16), and Mexican Ernesto Rivera (15) were also included in the training program.
