F1:Top 5 Red Bull Driver Academy Graduates

(Left-right) Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo and Pierre Gasly have all come through the RB Academy.
(Left-right) Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo and Pierre Gasly have all come through the RB Academy.

#1 - Sebastian Vettel

Sebastian Vettel won 4 driver's titles in a row at Red Bull, their only championships to date.
Sebastian Vettel won 4 driver's titles in a row at Red Bull, their only championships to date.

Despite his recent struggles, this couldn't be anybody else. Sebastian Vettel had been a part of the Red Bull Junior Team since he was in karting at the age of 13. The young German got his first F1 start in 2007, standing in for the injured Robert Kubica at the USGP, becoming what was then the youngest points scorer ever.

Vettel remained in the sport for the remainder of '07, but with Toro Rosso. Despite an embarrassing clash with Mark Webber in Japan, Vettel became a full-time Toro Rosso driver in 2008. At STR, he won in dominant fashion at Monza, before the senior team managed to stand on the top step. Vettel won RBR's first race at China the following year, missing out on the title that year to Jenson Button's all-conquering Brawn.

Vettel's best years so far were between 2010 and 2013, breaking far too many records to list in this article along the way. The most important stat, though, is that he became a four-time champion before the age that Alain Prost won his first F1 race. Vettel's move to Ferrari hasn't paid off yet, but he has been Lewis Hamilton's closest challenger more often than not, but has to regain his mojo if he's to win his fifth title and emulate his idol Michael Schumacher.

Who do you think is the best driver to have come through the Red Bull system? Is it Sebastian Vettel or someone else? Let us know in the comments below!

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Edited by Mustafa Ismail
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