Alex Albon delivered a humorous but pointed Red Bull joke during Formula 1’s latest Grill The Grid episode, suggesting that drivers promoted from Toro Rosso to the senior team usually end up being dismissed. The Williams driver made the comment after initially failing to identify former team-mate Max Verstappen from the list of teams the Dutchman has represented during his Formula 1 career.
What began as another light-hearted summer challenge quickly turned into an amusing swipe at Alex Albon’s former team and its much-discussed approach to managing drivers from its junior programme.
Alex Albon turns Grill The Grid into Grill The Red Bull
As it does every summer, Formula 1 has released the opening episodes of its Grill The Grid series on its official YouTube channel. The format features a sequence of skill and memory games in which the Formula 1 drivers compete against one another.
The first challenge required the drivers to identify a particular competitor from the list of teams for which that person had raced during their career. For viewers who enjoy the series, the winner will remain unspoiled. However, the moment that attracted the most attention was Alex Albon’s response, which was amusing but also carried a sharp edge.
Alex Albon jokes that Red Bull drivers all get fired
When asked to name a driver whose Formula 1 career had included only Toro Rosso and Red Bull, Alex Albon did not immediately think of former team-mate Max Verstappen, who was the correct answer.
After eventually identifying the four-time world champion, the Williams driver offered an observation that would probably resonate with many competitors who have passed through the academy previously managed by Helmut Marko.
“I was like, ‘There isn’t a driver who has had this career path because everyone gets fired at this point,’” Alex Albon joked while pointing towards the Red Bull badge.
The remark prompted laughter from those present. With Max Verstappen excluded, that is indeed how the journey has ended for the other drivers who followed that route, according to the joke Alex Albon was making.
Who could it possibly be?! 😂
The first episode of the all-new Grill The Grid series is now LIVE on our YouTube channel 🍿#F1 pic.twitter.com/X7dKeqbJAr
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 30, 2026
Could Red Bull’s junior programme change under Gwen Lagrue?
Red Bull’s approach could change from 2027, when Gwen Lagrue is due to take control of the junior programme. The former Mercedes academy specialist has been selected as Helmut Marko’s successor at Red Bull, giving him responsibility for overseeing the organisation’s next generation of young drivers.
The transition will place renewed attention on how Red Bull develops and promotes its prospects. The team is already evaluating its future options, with Isack Hadjar’s progress at Red Bull among the important cases being assessed during the Formula 1 summer break.
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