The shocking history of Max Verstappen's former Red Bull team-mates

As Isack Hadjar prepares for his Red Bull debut this season, the French driver faces the monumental task of matching the standards set by Max Verstappen, something his previous teammates have largely failed to do.

Of Verstappen's six previous partners at Red Bull, the majority have ended in the same outcome: being axed by the Milton Keynes-based outfit. Daniel Ricciardo remains the benchmark against which all subsequent Verstappen teammates are measured. 

The Australian's three-year partnership with Verstappen from 2016-2018 delivered five wins and 22 podiums, making him the only driver to out-score the Dutchman across multiple seasons. 

Ricciardo's early dominance was particularly notable. He out-qualified Verstappen 11-6 in 2016 and managed a respectable 9-11 race head-to-head record in 2017, despite Red Bull's inconsistent machinery. 

Even as Verstappen's development accelerated in 2018, Ricciardo demonstrated flashes of brilliance that justified his status as the team's most successful post-Mark Webber signing.

Perez's four-year stint from 2021-2024 makes him Verstappen's longest-serving partner, accumulating five wins and 24 podiums across 90 races. 

The Mexican's early-Red Bull form proved crucial during championship battles, particularly his 2021 Azerbaijan victory that demonstrated his racecraft under pressure. 

However, his dramatic 2024 decline, managing just 49 points in the final 18 races, ultimately cost him his seat despite his previous contributions.

The rest

Yuki Tsunoda's promotion from Racing Bulls ahead of the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix marked his long-awaited opportunity to shine, something he failed to do. He scored just 33 points across 22 race weekends for Red Bull, resulting in an abysmal 17th in the drivers' championship.

Alex Albon's 26-race partnership yielded two podiums in 2020 at Mugello and Bahrain, impressive considering the challenging machinery. 

His qualifying deficit to Verstappen averaged 0.494s, significantly better than Pierre Gasly's disastrous 0.890s gap during his 12-race 2019 stint.

Liam Lawson's two-race cameo in early 2025 offered insufficient data for meaningful evaluation, though his quick demotion back to Racing Bulls speaks volumes about Red Bull's standards.

Gasly's Red Bull experience serves as the starkest reminder of F1's unforgiving nature. His 63 points across 12 races and sole qualifying victory over Verstappen represent the nadir of Red Bull's team-mate selections. 

The Frenchman's subsequent Alpine revival proves his talent, but also highlights how poorly suited he was to Verstappen's aggressive driving environment.

As Hadjar prepares for his maiden Red Bull campaign, these benchmarks provide sobering context. Even Ricciardo, despite his success, ultimately chose Renault over continuing to battle Verstappen's relentless pace. 

The young Frenchman's challenge extends beyond mere performance; he must prove that Red Bull's faith in him is correct.