Red Bull Racing traces its origins back to the Stewart Grand Prix outfit that debuted in 1997. Jackie Stewart sold his team to the Ford Motor Company in 1999, who rebranded it Jaguar Racing. Ford put Jaguar Racing up for sale in September 2004, deciding it could no longer justify the investment in Formula One. Red Bull, an energy drinks company, agreed to purchase Jaguar Racing on November 15, 2004, for a reported US$1, with a commitment to invest US$400 million in the team over three Grand Prix seasons. Christian Horner was installed as the new team boss, and David Coulthard and Christian Klien were signed as drivers. The team operated under a British racing licence from 2005 to 2006. Red Bull’s involvement in Formula One predated owning a team, having sponsored Sauber from 1995 to 2004 and Gerhard Berger before that, beginning in 1989.
For the 2005 season, Red Bull used Cosworth engines, continuing the arrangement from Jaguar Racing. David Coulthard, chosen for his experience to lead the fledgling team, and Christian Klien, who had driven for Jaguar in 2004, initially shared driving duties with Vitantonio Liuzzi, who was slated to alternate every four races. However, Liuzzi only appeared in four races throughout the season. Red Bull Racing achieved more success in its first year than Jaguar had in the previous two seasons, accumulating 34 points – 24 for Coulthard, 9 for Klien, and 1 for Liuzzi – and finishing 6th in the Constructors' Championship.
In 2006, Red Bull switched to Ferrari engines. David Coulthard secured the team’s first podium finish at the Monaco Grand Prix, prompting Horner to jokingly promise to jump into the pool naked if one of his drivers finished on the podium. He fulfilled this promise by jumping in wearing only a red cape. The team finished 7th in the Constructors’ Championship with 16 points.
The team’s fortunes improved significantly with the arrival of Renault engines in 2007, and Mark Webber joining Coulthard as a driver. Red Bull became an Austrian constructor, though continued to operate from its base in Britain. In 2009, Sebastian Vettel joined the team, and Red Bull achieved its first race win at the Chinese Grand Prix. Vettel and Webber secured a 1-2 finish at the German Grand Prix, and finished the season 1-2 in the championship. Red Bull finished second in the Constructors' Championship.
The 2010 season saw Red Bull win the Constructors’ Championship for the first time, with Vettel winning the Drivers’ Championship. This success was repeated in 2011, 2012, and 2013, with Vettel securing four consecutive Drivers’ Championships. The team’s dominance during this period was marked by intense rivalry with McLaren and Ferrari. In 2013, Red Bull secured its fourth consecutive Constructors' Championship.
The 2011 Turkish Grand Prix saw a controversial incident between Red Bull teammates Vettel and Webber. Vettel attempted an overtake on Webber, resulting in a collision. Neither driver took full responsibility, but the incident caused tension within the team. In 2012, at the European Grand Prix, Webber won the race after a penalty for Pastor Maldonado.
During the 2018 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Daniel Ricciardo won after a late-race collision between Vettel and Verstappen. The incident sparked a heated exchange between the two drivers. At the 2018 Brazilian Grand Prix, Verstappen nearly secured a victory but collided with Esteban Ocon while lapping him, costing him the win.
In December 2024, it was announced that Christian Horner would be stepping down as team principal, after leading the team since its formation in 2005. He was replaced by Laurent Mekies.
Red Bull Racing’s success in the early 2010s established them as a dominant force in Formula One. Their four consecutive Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships with Vettel represent a period of sustained excellence. The team's more recent success with Max Verstappen has cemented their position as one of the top teams in the sport. The team’s six Drivers’ Championships and seven Constructors’ Championships place them among the most successful teams in Formula One history.
Red Bull also operates Scuderia AlphaTauri (formerly Toro Rosso), which serves as a junior team for developing young drivers. Red Bull Advanced Technologies develops high-performance vehicles and technologies, including the Aston Martin Valkyrie hypercar.
Red Bull Racing has been recognized with numerous awards and accolades, including multiple FIA Formula One World Championship titles. The team has also received recognition for its engineering and technological innovations.
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