F1 star turned intercourse toy tycoon after he was left penniless following Red Bull axe
Robert Doornbos made his F1 debut halfway through the 2005 season and was one of the most promising young drivers on the grid before his career hit the skids
Robert Doornbos (left) on his Grand Prix debut(Image: Photo by Sutton Images)
Former F1 sensation Robert Doornbos once had the racing world at his fingertips, touted as one of the most promising young talents on the track. He made his F1 debut halfway through the 2005 season, teaming up with Christijan Albers at Minardi.
After eight Grands Prix with the team, he moved to Red Bull Racing in 2006 as a reserve/test driver, eventually taking over from Christian Klein for the final three races. Post-2006, Doornbos didn’t return to F1, instead finding success across the pond in American Champ Car racing for Minardi.
Dutch property mogul Harry Muermans, who co-founded Muermans Group with his brother in 1978, was an early financial backer of Doornbos’ career. It’s common in racing for wealthy sponsors to bankroll talented drivers to help them advance up the ranks.
However, when Doornbos’ career hit the skids, the relationship turned sour. In 2012, ex-Minardi and Red Bull racer Doornbos found himself embroiled in a legal tussle with Muermans, who alleged that the £9.5million given to him during his F1 stint was a loan, not sponsorship.
Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf later reported that the Rotterdam court had granted Muermans’ request to declare Doornbos’ company bankrupt.
While such a blow would have derailed many, Doornbos made the surprising choice to launch sex toy company Kiiroo. Kiiroo’s tech aims to allow long-distance couples to enjoy sexual sensations without being physically together – essentially, it’s remote-controlled intimacy.
“We use technology to forge new and better ways for people to connect, because in an increasingly digitalised, freelance world, the need is growing every day,” reads Kiirroo’s website.
“We are on a mission to improve human communication online. To date, online communication has only included video, audio or text – but we continue to add a new dimension to the world of social networking; touch.” Once their products are purchased, couples can link up via Bluetooth-enabled video chat and experience each other’s movements.
The firm’s success has been such that Doornbos was featured in Forbes a decade ago, with the company located just a “stone’s throw” from Amsterdam’s Red Light District.
Although the company is based in the Netherlands, Dutch native Doornbos resides in Dubai with his young family. Alongside his ventures in the adult industry, Doornbos also works as an F1 analyst for Ziggo Sport.
In 2024, he briefly left the company after moving to the Middle East, stating: “Besides being a Formula 1 analyst, I’m also an entrepreneur. Opportunities have come my way in the Middle East, and we’ve decided to settle there with our family.
“And that’s why, after more than ten wonderful years and four world titles for Max Verstappen, my time at Ziggo Sport is coming to an end.” However, Doornbos resumed his analyst role with Ziggo in early 2025. He also co-hosts ‘The Pit Talk Podcast’ with Chris Hardy.
