The momentum of 2021 launched Red Bull—but most particularly its wunderkind Verstappen—into a new era of dominance that threatened to bore viewers and undo all of the hard-earned popularity Formula 1 had gained after millions of lockdown-bound viewers tuned into Netflix’s Drive to Survive during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Red Bull’s surprise link to signing Franco Colapinto is the latest twist in the Formula 1 driver market – but would it work?

Williams are likely to spend the rest of 2024 negotiating with rival teams about their interest Franco Colapinto. Red Bull and Alpine have already enquired about the 21-year-old’s availability, with talks advanced taking place in the background.