25 Facts About Robert Doornbos

Robert Doornbos has been test and third driver for the Jordan and Red Bull Racing Formula One teams, as well as driving for Minardi and Red Bull Racing in 2005 and 2006.

Robert Doornbos gave up tennis and focused on racing, joining the JR racing team for the 1999 Opel Lotus UK Winter series.

Robert Doornbos had a successful season, finishing second in the championship after taking four pole positions, four fastest laps and four wins.

Robert Doornbos finished the year fifth in the championship, taking two poles, two wins and nine podiums.

Robert Doornbos drew attention to himself with a second-place finish in the Formula Three support race to the British Grand Prix.

Robert Doornbos then moved to the German Formula Three championship with Team Ghinzani.

Robert Doornbos took pole position at Spa-Francorchamps for the Formula Three Masters event, and finished second in Korea.

Robert Doornbos impressed as test driver for the final few races of the season, and was reappointed with the newly-sold Jordan team for the 2005 season.

Robert Doornbos completed Friday testing duties for Jordan in all but two of the first 11 events of the year, with French Renault F1 test driver Franck Montagny testing at the European Grand Prix, and Jordan being banned from using a third car at the Canadian Grand Prix after using too many tyres at the previous race.

On 19 July Robert Doornbos was appointed as a Minardi race driver for the 2005 German Grand Prix onwards, replacing Austrian Patrick Friesacher, who had encountered sponsorship issues.

Robert Doornbos raced a total of eight Grand Prix for the team, his best result being a 13th position in the Turkish and Belgian Grands Prix.

Robert Doornbos was unable to find a race drive for 2006, but Christian Horner, his former F3000 boss, had since been appointed as Sporting Director of Red Bull Racing, where he was appointed the team's test and reserve driver.

Robert Doornbos thus spent most of 2006 testing at the racetracks on Fridays, ready to step into a race drive if either David Coulthard or Christian Klien were unable to race.

Robert Doornbos entered with a bang by qualifying in the top 10 for his first race, in China.

Robert Doornbos was signed as one of the team's test drivers for 2007, alongside Michael Ammermuller, with Coulthard and Mark Webber taking the race seats.

Robert Doornbos made a successful debut in the series in the first race of the season, the Vegas Grand Prix.

One week later Robert Doornbos won the 2007 Mont-Tremblant Grand Prix in Canada and as a result took the joint lead of the championship with Sebastien Bourdais.

Robert Doornbos later went on to win the 2007 San Jose Grand Prix after an accident during the first lap on turn one left him without his front wing.

Robert Doornbos has finished no worse than 12th in his first three races but the highlight has been a second place start in his first oval track race at Kansas.

Robert Doornbos took the lead after the first round of pit stops, but on that first stop under yellow he bumped a stationary tyre in the pit stall ahead of him.

Robert Doornbos was penalised to the rear of the field and was no longer a factor.

Robert Doornbos stated that there was the option for him to leave the team after 12 races and he decided to take it.

Robert Doornbos said that he would like to stay in IndyCar and would announce his future plans shortly.

On 5 August 2009 Robert Doornbos signed with HVM Racing in the IndyCar Series for the remainder of the 2009 and to drive for the team through 2010, however this did not happen.

Robert Doornbos is currently active as a Formula 1 analyst for Ziggo Sport.