Red Bull axed driver days after 'mad' incident during Chinese Grand Prix

Red Bull once replaced one of their drivers after he was involved in a series of incidents with a rival - one of which took place during the Chinese Grand Prix.

Red Bull have another new driver pairing for the 2026 season, with Isack Hadjar joining four-time world champion Max Verstappen.

Verstappen has driven for Red Bull since 2016, when he was parachuted into a seat early on in the season to partner Daniel Ricciardo.

Then only 18, the Dutch driver had impressed during his rookie season in F1 with Toro Rosso, and was expected to earn a promotion to Red Bull for 2019 onwards.

But the team decided to act after just four races, following a string of incidents involving then-Red Bull driver Daniil Kvyat.

The Russian, who moved to the senior team at the beginning of 2015 to replace Ferrari-bound Sebastian Vettel, had a solid first season in Formula 1, collecting 95 points, finishing ahead of team-mate Ricciardo and recording his first podium finish.

But there was a feeling that Kvyat wasn't going to stay at Red Bull for the long-term, especially as Ricciardo suffered several mechanical problems in 2015 relating to the team's unreliable Renault power unit.

There were also question marks raised over Kvyat's aggressive driving style - which would land him in hot water during the early stages of 2016.

The Russian secured his second podium in F1 by finishing third at the Chinese Grand Prix, though was described as a 'madman' by Vettel after an incident on lap one.

With Vettel attempting to overtake team-mate Kimi Raikkonen in the middle of turn one, Kvyat saw his opportunity down the inside and overtook Vettel, only for the trio to collide.

Despite the German's claims, there were doubts over whether Kvyat deserved any blame, given he had cleanly overtaken both Ferraris by the time any contact was made.

Kvyat and Vettel then came to blows again - multiple times - at the subsequent Russian Grand Prix. But this time it was clear who was at fault.

At the first corner, Kvyat misjudged his braking point and hit the back of Vettel's Ferrari, causing damage to his front wing and a left rear puncture to Vettel.

As Vettel slowed around turn three due to the puncture, Kvyat understeered his car into the back of the Ferrari for a second time, causing Vettel to hit the wall and retire from the race.

The German then infamously shouted over the radio: "Oh, for f***s sake man! Who the f**k was that?

"Oh I'm out! Crashed! Somebody hit me in the rear in turn two, then somebody hit me in the f**king rear again in turn three.

"Honestly, what the f**k are we doing here? What are these guys thinking?"

Kvyat was unceremoniously demoted from Red Bull to Toro Rosso from the Spanish Grand Prix onwards - not that Helmut Marko saw it as a demotion.

"We wanted to take him out of the firing line and help his career instead of harming it. Kvyat has seen both halves. I do not see this as a demotion," he told reporters (via ESPN).

Verstappen would go on to win for Red Bull at the first attempt in Spain, and recorded six more podium finishes before the 2016 season was out.

Kvyat, meanwhile, was dropped by Toro Rosso midway through 2017 but returned to the team in 2019, capturing his third podium in F1 during the 2020 season.

He was not retained for 2021, with the re-branded AlphaTauri team deciding instead to promote Yuki Tsunoda to a race seat alongside Pierre Gasly.