Red Bull driver reveals shock F1 return option

Red Bull simulator driver Sebastien Buemi has revealed he was offered an opportunity to return to Formula 1. 

Buemi competed for the Red Bull sister team from 2009-2011, before the Swiss driver and team-mate Jaime Alguersuari were replaced by Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne. 

Despite losing his F1 seat and never returning to the grid, Buemi initially continued with Red Bull as its reserve driver. 

It is only as of 2023 that Buemi has not been on Red Bull's reserve driver list, although remains crucial to the team on race weekends. 

Buemi received considerable praise from team principal Christian Horner last year for his work in the simulator, whilst he also confirmed to RacingNews365 that he has been supporting the team with its 2026 car.

Alongside his behind-the-scenes role at Red Bull, Buemi has been competing in the World Endurance Championship and Formula E, becoming champion in both.

Remarkably, he was offered a return to the F1 grid with the Red Bull sister team for 2019 but opted against it.

"We had a conversation with Christian Horner and Dr. Marko in 2018," Buemi told e-Formel.de.

"But that didn't make sense for me because I had good contracts in Formula E and with Toyota. I would have had the chance to drive for Toro Rosso again. 

"But for me, it was better to continue on my path than to return to Formula 1."

Marko support

Buemi is now 36 years old, but was just 24 when his career as an F1 driver ended. It was a major setback so early in his career, one he initially struggled to understand. 

He was eager for a promotion to Red Bull and the opportunity to race for the Milton Keynes-based team, rather than leave the grid. 

Whilst he found the team's decisions to drop him difficult, looking back he is very grateful for what Red Bull and advisor Helmut Marko have done for him. 

"I think Red Bull and Dr Marko have done a lot for me," Buemi added. "I am very grateful for that.

"Of course, I did not really understand the decision at the time - I would have loved to drive the Red Bull car. But it was not my decision and I had to deal with it."

He continued: "That was very difficult at the time. You have done everything your whole life to drive in Formula 1. 

"These decisions are not easy to understand, but I stayed with Red Bull as a reserve driver at the time. You just have to accept that and immediately think about your future again."