Red Bull Signs Kimi Raikkonen's 11 Year Old Son to Driver Development Programme
3 sources across 3 countries · Brazil · South Africa · United Kingdom
Who reported this
- CNN Brasil
- Business Day
- BBC News
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Robin Raikkonen, the 11 year old son of 2007 Formula 1 world champion Kimi Raikkonen, has joined the Red Bull driver development programme. The team announced the signing on Wednesday, noting that the youngster, who is nicknamed Ace, will begin working with the programme in 2027. The Red Bull Junior Team has previously produced four time world champions Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen.
Kimi Raikkonen, known as the Iceman, expressed excitement about the choice, stating that Red Bull offers a comprehensive programme to nurture his son's natural talent and progress. Raikkonen had a distinguished career with 21 wins and 103 podiums across more than 350 Grands Prix, and he was the most recent Ferrari driver to win the world title. He also competed in Nascar and the World Rally Championship.
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies praised Robin's speed, racecraft, and exceptional ability in karting. Mekies emphasized that the team intends to develop the young driver step by step without placing unnecessary pressure on him. Robin follows a similar path to Ella Hakkinen, the daughter of double world champion Mika Hakkinen, who joined the McLaren development programme last year.
How each side framed it
- Centre
- The center leaning outlets focused on the factual details of the signing and the historical context of Kimi Raikkonen's career.
- Centre-right
- The center right outlet presented the news as a straightforward professional acquisition within the motorsport industry.
Sources
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