Robin Frijns has revealed he once turned down an offer to join F1 world champion Red Bull’s young driver development programme.
Actually, "I twice said no to Red Bull," the 21-year-old Dutchman, who in 2012 won the Renault World Series at his first attempt, is quoted by De Telegraaf newspaper.
This week in Abu Dhabi, he will test for Sauber, and is tipped to become the Swiss team’s new reserve driver for 2013, probably taking over from Esteban Gutierrez who has been linked with the race seat.
But Frijns will also drive Red Bull’s championship-leading RB8 as Yas Marina, as his prize for winning the aforementioned Renault-powered Formula Renault 3.5 category.
He has, however, ruled out joining Red Bull’s junior programme, which has produced the likes of Sebastian Vettel, Jaime Alguersuari, Sebastien Buemi, Daniel Ricciardo, Jean-Eric Vergne and others.
"I know their games," Frijns is quoted as saying.
"You cannot decide what you want to do, and if you don’t do what they want, you’re out.
"They treat you like a dog," he insisted.
"In my career I’ve always made my own choices and I want to continue to do that.
"I need people around me who I can trust, and so Red Bull is not for me, even though I have won more than Vettel did before he made his name in formula one."