Robin Raikkonen joins Red Bull junior program for 2027
NXTbets Pro | Published On: September 9, 2026
Robin Raikkonen joins Red Bull
Red Bull has added Robin Raikkonen to its junior driver development programme, as he continues his racing career in karting. Raikkonen, known as “Ace,” will officially begin working with the team in 2027, and Red Bull said the move is designed to support his racing career. The son of 2007 Formula 1 world champion Kimi Raikkonen is already racing in professional karting and has built a record that includes wins in national and international Rotax and WSK championships. Red Bull described him as one of the most promising young drivers in his age group and said it wants to develop him gradually, without added pressure. That approach fits the way the team framed the signing, with a focus on patience, structure and steady progress rather than a rush toward the next level.
Red Bull plans development
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies backed that view with a strong assessment of what the team sees in the young driver. Mekies said Robin has shown “exceptional ability, speed, racecraft and maturity.” He also said Red Bull will provide the time, support and resources needed to help him progress. That message puts the emphasis on development as much as talent. The programme gives Red Bull a chance to support a promising karting prospect as he continues to develop. Red Bull’s language around the deal points to a careful long-range plan. The team said it wants to back his career while keeping expectations measured, a useful stance for a driver who is still only 11 and already carrying a well-known family name.
Raikkonen family backs Ace
Kimi Raikkonen welcomed the move and said the family is excited by the opportunity. He said they were “thrilled” by the signing and added that Red Bull offers a strong development path. The family has been building Robin’s karting career in Italy, where he has won races. Ace Raikkonen won the seventh round of the Rotax Max Challenge Italia at Laghi and sat second in the championship on net points after dropped scores were applied. The family also attended the Italian Grand Prix at Monza last weekend, where they were seen in the Red Bull motorhome. Robin’s progress in karting, paired with Red Bull’s decision to bring him into its junior programme, gives the story a clear next step. The signing keeps him on a path that already includes race wins, international competition and a growing reputation in his age group, with Red Bull now set to guide what comes next.
