F1 NEWS;Red Bull’s Driver Change Raises Concerns, Says Ralf S…read more
F1 NEWS;Red Bull’s Driver Change Raises Concerns, Says Ralf S…read more
Red Bull’s recent decision to promote Yuki Tsunoda to the main team has raised questions within the organization, with former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher suggesting that team principal Christian Horner remains skeptical about the Japanese driver’s abilities. Despite Tsunoda’s promotion, which came after several days of speculation, Schumacher believes the move may not significantly improve Red Bull’s current performance.
On Thursday, Red Bull confirmed that Tsunoda would replace Liam Lawson in the team, with Lawson returning to Racing Bulls. Lawson had been chosen earlier in the season to fill the seat left vacant by Sergio Perez, but his disappointing start to the year, which saw him fail to score points in his first two races, led to the decision to switch drivers.
Schumacher, speaking to Sky Sports Germany, noted that Red Bull’s success so far this season has largely been due to Max Verstappen’s exceptional performances. He added that there are ongoing disagreements within the team regarding the choice of drivers, particularly with Dr. Helmut Marko, who had preferred promoting two drivers from his own squad. However, neither Tsunoda nor Lawson has received strong backing from Horner, creating an atmosphere of uncertainty within the team.
Red Bull currently sits 42 points behind McLaren in the constructors’ championship, and their hopes of regaining the title from the British team seem increasingly slim. There are also concerns over Verstappen’s ability to defend his drivers’ title, with the Dutchman appearing to struggle to match the pace of McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
Looking ahead to the Japanese Grand Prix, Red Bull will be hoping to turn their season around, with Tsunoda set to make his debut for the team in front of his home crowd. Lawson, meanwhile, will be looking to bounce back from his disappointing start and deliver a strong performance at Suzuka, where he will race alongside his new Racing Bulls teammate, Isack Hadjar.
