F1:Top 5 Red Bull Driver Academy Graduates

#4 - Carlos Sainz Jr.

Carlos Sainz now drives for McLaren but he was a part of the Red Bull driver programme.

Caros Sainz is one of the drivers that has come through the Red Bull driver programme that is perhaps a victims of the system's success. Sainz was always on the motorsporting radar due to his world champion rallying father and he became part of the programme in 2010 at 16. He quickly climbed the junior formula ladder, which culminated in him winning the Formula Renault 3.5 series in 2014, ahead of the aforementioned Gasly.

The Spaniard's F1 debut came the following year for Toro Rosso, where he'd score regular points with the junior team in 2015 through to 2017. Sainz went on loan to Renault for the end of 2017 and into 2018, because there wasn't any room for Chili at Red Bull. Although Carlos hasn't stood on the podium, he has come close, most notably his 4th place at the 2017 Singapore GP.

Now driving for McLaren, he hopes to follow in his idol, Fernando Alonso's footsteps, by winning races for the Woking team. Like Gasly, Sainz is still young, only 24-years-old, but he's established himself as one of the hottest prospects in the sport and one of the best Spanish F1 drivers ever.