
Max Verstappen may be the most successful Dutchman in Red Bull’s Formula 1 history, but he isn’t its first driver heralding from the Netherlands. That honour is bestowed to Robert Doornbos, who stepped up from his third driver role to replace Christian Klien for the final three grands prix of 2006.
Mark Webber’s impending arrival at the fast-growing team for 2007 meant Doornbos only had a narrow window in which to impress, but it didn’t help that development on the RB2 had long since ceased. Nor had the car which David Coulthard took to the team's maiden podium in Monaco been a regular challenger at the sharp end.