Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s advisor, has identified Rocco Coronel, a 13-year-old Dutchman, as a potential successor to Max Verstappen inside the Milton Keynes-based Formula One squad’s Junior Programme.
Marko identified Verstappen as a potential Formula One great and placed him in the Red Bull-owned Toro Rosso squad at the age of 17 in 2015.
Nine years later, the gamble has paid off, with the Dutchman vying for his fourth successive Formula One Drivers’ Championship.
Coronel, the son of Dutch racer Tom, who has raced in Le Mans, Touring Cars, and the Dakar Rally, is now on Marko’s radar and part of the Red Bull Junior Programme.
“We were very surprised by Rocco,” Marko remarked following a test that qualified the adolescent for the Red Bull Junior Programme (via GPBlog).
“He is 13 years old, which means he was younger than Max when we started working with him. There were other good drivers, but Rocco Coronel was clearly the best for his age.
Marko observed various similarities between Coronel and Verstappen, including temperament and parental guidance.
“[Rocco] is quite mature,” Marko added.
“He exudes self-confidence and appears to have a very powerful father in the Netherlands.
“But suddenly his father stopped talking, and Rocco revealed more about himself.
“I’m impressed with how he balances racing and school. So I’m confident that if Max ever leaves, we’ll already have a replacement in place.”
When will Max Verstappen leave F1?
Verstappen is now contracted with Red Bull until the 2028 season, but there is no guarantee he will complete the deal or even stay in the sport for that long.
The Dutchman has already stated that his next step will be his “last” in Formula One, whether it is retirement, team switching, or a commitment to Red Bull.
After reaching 200 Grands Prix in F1 at his home race in Zandvoort, Verstappen stated that he had no desire to reach 400.
Furthermore, a recent disagreement with the FIA over profanity during a press conference prompted the Dutchman to threaten to leave the sport entirely.
Given the uncertainty surrounding Verstappen’s future, having a successor in the Junior Programme would be beneficial to Marko and Red Bull.
Coronel was only 13 years old when he drove a Formula 4 and Formula 3 car for Red Bull, which impressed his father Tom.
“The great thing was that Rocco drove a Formula 4 car for a day,” Coronel Sr added.
“That went so well, he was put in a GP3 vehicle the next day. It’s actually unusual for a thirteen-year-old boy.
“But the best part is that he’s totally comfortable about it. I also attempt to tone things down a bit.
“It also assures that he never feels nervous or awed by anything. “Not even during the test.”
