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Robert Doornbos The latest news on former F1 driver Robert Doornbos

Read everything about Robert Doornbos, former driver for Minardi and Red Bull Racing.

Classic video: Doornbos takes his Red Bull for a ride over the Afsluitdijk
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Video: Red Bull stunts at snowy F1 circuit Zandvoort
Video: Red Bull stunts at snowy F1 circuit Zandvoort
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Biography Robert Doornbos

Robert Michael Doornbos was born in Rotterdam on September 23, 1981. As a teenager, Doornbos had a promising tennis career. In 1998, his father took him to the Belgian F1 Grand Prix, where he met the newly crowned world champion Jacques Villeneuve. Doornbos was immediately captivated by the magic of the sport and decided to trade in his tennis racket for racing gloves, which proved to be successful. In 1999, he became vice champion in the Opel Lotus Series. He moved up through various Formula 3 championships via the Formula Ford, where he spent three seasons.

In 2004, Doornbos signed a contract with the F3000 team of Arden International. The Dutchman had a strong season with four podium finishes, including a victory at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit. His good results earned him the Rookie of the Year award. The Dutchman finished third in the championship, while his teammate Vitantonio Liuzzi took the title.

Robert Doornbos F1

Based on his strong performance in Formula 3000, Robert Doornbos was appointed test driver for the Jordan Formula 1 team for the last three races of 2004. In the three Grands Prix he attended, he was the third driver and also participated in the free practice sessions on Fridays. He made his debut during the Grand Prix weekend in China.

Robert Doornbos Minardi

Doornbos made his Formula 1 debut during the German Grand Prix at the Hockenheim circuit in 2005. He replaced Austrian driver Patrick Friesacher. A special moment: Doornbos' teammate was Christijan Albers, which meant that Minardi had a Dutch driver duo under contract.

Robert Doornbos Red Bull Racing

After the 2005 season, Robert Doornbos left Minardi and joined Red Bull Racing. For most of the season, he was the third driver. In September, the energy drink manufacturer announced that Doornbos would take over Christian Klien's seat for the last three races. He made his appearance during the Grands Prix of China, Japan, and Brazil. In addition to a spot on the grid, offered Robert Doornbos more. On August 15, 2006, Doornbos drove the RB2 over the Dutch Afsluitdijk for a marketing stunt. He achieved a top speed of 326 kilometers per hour during the session.

Champ Car

In 2007, Doornbos was again active as a test driver at Red Bull Racing. In addition, he competed in the Champcar World Series for Minardi Team USA. He finished second in his debut in Las Vegas. He also scored a podium in his third race. On July 1, 2007, he scored his first victory; he repeated this feat in San José. Doornbos finished the season in third place.

Superleague Formula

In 2008, Doornbos decided to try his luck elsewhere. The Dutch driver spoke with the BMW Sauber F1 team, but without success. He left the Formula 1 circus and switched to the Superleague Formula, a racing class for soccer clubs. He competed for AC Milan and finished third in the championship, with two victories as a highlight. He also competed in the Superleague Formula in 2010 and 2011.

Robert Doornbos A1 Grand Prix

In the late summer of 2008, the A1 GP team Netherlands announced that Doornbos would be joining the A1 Grand Prix. Under team boss Jan Lammers, he competed in six Grands Prix, achieving one victory at the Portimao circuit.

Robert Doornbos IndyCar

After a season in the A1 Grand Prix, Doornbos returned to the United States. He entered the IndyCar Series and raced for Newman-Haas-Lanigan Racing. His mentor was two-time Indy500 winner Arie Luyendyk. In the middle of the season, he left Newman-Haas-Lanigan Racing for HVM Racing. He competed in a total of seventeen races in the IndyCar Series and finished sixteenth in the championship.

Robert Doornbos' businesses

After his career in racing, Doornbos focused on entrepreneurship. He became a commercial director at an investment company, founded a company that develops sex toys, and held a top position at PON Luxury Cars. Doornbos also regularly appears on various motorsport-related TV programs and is available as a speaker.

Robert Doornbos' net worth

Robert Doornbos' net worth is estimated to be around fifteen million euros.

Robert Doornbos Porsche

In 2023, Doornbos can still be found on and around the circuit, in part because of his partnership with Porsche.

Where does Robert Doornbos live?

Although Robert Doornbos was born in Rotterdam, he currently lives in Amsterdam. The former F1 driver also lived in Monaco for a time.

Chantal Bles, Robert Doornbos' wife

In April 2023, Doornbos tied the knot with stylist Chantal Bles. The couple has two children: daughter Jada Doornbos and son Josh Doornbos.

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