According to Robin Frijns, Red Bull treats its drivers like dogs
Invited to participate in the Abu Dhabi Young Driver Tests with Sauber and Red Bull, Robin Frijns, who had just won the Formula Renault 3.5 championship, claims to have declined a proposal from the Austrian firm twice to join their young driver program, convinced that it would have deprived him of a freedom that is incredibly important to him.
Recently crowned World Series by Renault 3.5 champion, Robin Frijns will be rewarded on Thursday with a day of driving in the Red Bull RB8 during the now traditional young driver tests in Abu Dhabi. However, the Dutchman does not see any immediate future with Red Bull: “I have twice said no to Red Bull,” the 21-year-old told De Telegraaf. “I know their game. You can’t decide what you want to do and if you don’t do what they want, you’re out. They treat you like a dog. In my career, I have always made my own choices and I want to continue like that. I need people I can trust around me and therefore Red Bull is not for me, even if I’ve won more than Vettel did before making a name for himself in Formula 1.”
Robin Frijns confirms, in an interview with GPUpdate.net, that the Red Bull program is not for him: « I received an offer twice, just after I won the Formula BMW Europe [in 2010, editor’s note]. The way their program operates, it simply isn’t for me. The deal to be part of it wasn’t really fair and you can’t choose where you race, so you lose a lot of freedom. They decide which team you drive for, but personally I am very sensitive when it comes to my teams… I want to be able to choose how I can help create something special. In hindsight, it worked out well for me. »
If it is difficult, after such statements, to imagine a future at Milton Keynes or Faenza for Robin Frijns, it nonetheless remains true that the Maastricht native will indeed have an opportunity to make a mark at the wheel of what is currently the best single-seater on the grid. But before that, this Tuesday, Frijns will have already experienced the joy of his first official laps, driving the Sauber C31: The test with Sauber will be something special because I really earned it thanks to my performances. The one with Red Bull is the reward that comes with my title in Formula Renault 3.5. I also have better relations with Sauber than with Red Bull, but of course, they still have the best car this year. I just need to prove myself during these two days, confides the Dutchman to GPUpdate.net.
And Frijns adds: « I prepared myself, but I don’t know if one can really be ready for a Formula 1 test. We just see how it goes and do our best: hopefully, it will be good enough and I can let my talent speak during these tests. » The young driver’s immediate goal is indeed to reach Formula 1 as quickly as possible, a chance that Sauber today seems more likely to offer him than Red Bull: « Do I want to become Nico Hülkenberg’s teammate? Where do I sign? To be honest, I don’t care who my teammate is. I just want a Formula 1 seat. Of course, it’s not very easy, especially for a Dutchman, but I’m doing my best. This test will have a huge influence on my future. »
Autosport believes it knows that Peter Sauber’s team intends to commit long-term with the young Frijns: “With Robin, we think he is a very talented driver and that’s why we want to give him this opportunity. For now, it’s just a test and we’ll see what happens,” confided Monisha Kaltenborn, director of the Hinwil-based team, at the end of October.
