Red Bull’s recent decisions regarding its Formula 1 driver line-up have drawn significant criticism. People wonder if the current world champion team has lost its way when it comes to making important decisions. Despite Sergio Perez’s worsening form, he has been retained for another two years. Yuki Tsunoda, despite performing well on the sister team, will remain at RB in 2025 with no hope of promotion.
From a broader perspective, Red Bull’s driver choices are not right for the sport as a whole. Ideally, fans would like to see a highly competitive driver like Carlos Sainz alongside Max Verstappen. Alternatively, Tsunoda, who has shown great potential, could be promoted. However, Daniel Ricciardo, despite occasional flashes of brilliance, has struggled to perform consistently since he joined McLaren. On any other team his performance would not be enough to secure his seat. Additionally, Liam Lawson’s backup role last year showcased his abilities, making him a worthy candidate for a spot on the team focused on developing new talent.
The signing of Pérez, in particular, seems to be motivated by factors unrelated to his actual performance. This pattern has been evident over the past three seasons, with Perez starting out strong before experiencing a significant decline. This inconsistency is not aligned with the qualities of a world-class driver. It is therefore clear that Red Bull’s decisions are not based on racing logic.
It is necessary to consider Red Bull’s specific internal circumstances to fully understand these choices. However, they do not seem to be driven by a performance-oriented approach. Red Bull appears to be adopting a more conservative strategy in the driver market, marking a departure from its previous ruthless decision-making. In the past, drivers entered F1 before they were fully prepared, and successful drivers from junior teams quickly entered Red Bull Racing. Some drivers would be discarded before they had a fair chance to prove themselves. The current situation, with Perez retaining his seat despite his disappointing performance, Tsunoda being overlooked for promotion and Ricciardo’s inconsistent form, is not aligned with Red Bull’s previous approach.
This shift towards conservatism may be influenced by the fact that Max Verstappen, the team’s main driver, is consistently achieving exceptional results. As long as Verstappen continues to perform, Red Bull may not feel the need to make radical changes to its driver line-up. However, this approach does not prioritize succession planning. In the past, Red Bull looked to keep everyone on their toes and constantly changed drivers in search of the next big talent. Verstappen’s long-term contract may have diminished the motivation for this approach.
Although Red Bull has a reputation for developing drivers from its own junior program, it is worth noting that both of Red Bull Racing’s current drivers were recruited externally. Verstappen quickly moved from the junior program to F1 driver because it was the right long-term decision for Red Bull’s F1 project. Pérez, on the other hand, was on the verge of losing his job despite having won the race. Red Bull recognized his talent and signed him to play the role of a quality teammate for Verstappen in a title fight. However, after four years, it is clear that Perez is not the ideal long-term choice for the position. Other teams, such as Mercedes and Ferrari, have interesting young drivers in their ranks, while Pérez is limited to choosing between lower-level teams. Red Bull’s reluctance to look beyond its current group of drivers may limit its options.
The Red Bull drivers’ strategy, or lack thereof, can have major consequences. This can cost them the constructors’ championship and potentially even the drivers’ title in the future. Red Bull’s decisions are not aligned with a performance-oriented mindset and its driver lineup lacks a clear direction for the immediate future. Red Bull’s young driver program, once hailed for its effectiveness, has been largely ineffective in producing F1 drivers for the organization in recent years. This issue may be affecting them now, and Red Bull will have to deal with it sooner or later.
While Red Bull understandably wants consistency and stability amid the controversy surrounding the team, its recent approach to drivers contradicts the mentality of a pure racing team. Red Bull’s decision to extend Pérez’s contract after his poor performances raises questions. The team has been struggling with its driver strategy for a long time, especially after Ricciardo’s departure. The lack of a clear strategy for junior drivers and options for the second team has only gotten worse. Red Bull, known for its well-structured approach to driver development, appears to have lost its way. While there may be an argument for keeping Perez to maintain relative quiet within Red Bull Racing, this weakens the team’s overall performance compared to a Verstappen/Sainz combination, which could potentially score more points. The future of Red Bull’s lineup beyond 2025 is uncertain.
Red Bull’s approach to its second team, AlphaTauri, aligns with its initial intentions in rebranding from Toro Rosso. The team aimed to balance continuity and performance, allowing the Faenza team to act more independently in terms of driver selection. Tsunoda’s contract extension fits into this context as he provides continuity and support to the second team. However, a second Red Bull team that does not prioritize the possibility of promotion to the main team diminishes the excitement and risks associated with previous driver rivalries. The “promote or be dumped” mentality no longer applies, which may be healthier for driver development but takes away from Red Bull’s unique identity. Without its ruthless driver policy, Red Bull risks becoming a mediocre midfield team limited by being the owner’s second priority in F1.
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This week, surprising events occurred in the world of sports. An exciting turn in the football championship left fans ecstatic. The home team, known for its ability to score goals in the final minutes, achieved an incredible victory against one of its biggest rivals. The crowd went wild when the star player scored the winning goal in added time of the second half. This surprising victory put the local team in a privileged position to win the title. Fans are looking forward to the upcoming games and hope that their favorite team will maintain this incredible winning streak.
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