Tsunoda Becomes Verstappen's 6th Red Bull Team Mate

source

Drivers do not seem to last trying to live up to the standards set by Verstappen. Tsunoda becomes driver no 6 to join Verstappen.

Last weekend Red Bull Formula One announced that they would hold an emergency board meeting back at their Milton Keynes head office. I think everyone knew what was being discussed and this was dealing with the problematic second car.

99 days ago Sergio Perez was given the boot and the New Zealander Liam Lawson was the new number 2 driver up until Monday this last week. He lasted exactly 2 races before being demoted to the secondary Racing Bulls team. Liam is indeed very fortunate that there is another team in the Red Bull stable otherwise he would be without a seat.

Sergio Perez found out and now Lawson that if you do not perform you will be removed no matter how much revenue via sponsors you add to the teams piggy bank. Formula One points is where the real revenue lies and drivers paying for seats are slowly bein removed by drivers with talent and potential. Tsunoda and Stroll are the last of the paying for seats drivers and surely they will not survive much longer.

Tsunoda has been promoted into the Red Bull team for the Japanese Grand Prix being his home race which will no doubt please Honda his main sponsor. Tsunoda has had the backing of Honda via offering engines for the team that lets him race. The only reason he has survived this long as an F1 driver is the protection this sponsorship has offered. This year he has no protection due to Honda not providing engines to Red Bull and that partnership is now finished. This is sink or swim time and his last chance to show if he has the temperament and talent to succeed.

The reason behind Red Bull not waiting on Lawson to see if he can improve is the no points being scored by the second car. Verstappen has scored all the teams 36 points thus far and the team needs consistent points from the 2nd driver to at least stay in touch in the constructors title. When your rivals are scoring with both cars even if you score heavily with one car you are still losing ground.

Teams like to attack strategically with both cars ad with Lawson at the back of the field he ha to be excluded from anything tactical. What happened to Lawson may seem rather brutal, but that is the reality and personal feelings have nothing to do with this decision linked solely on performance. Lawson is just not good enough and the same pressure now lies on Tsunoda which I have serious doubts on whether he is good enough let alone a questionable temperament when under pressure. He should perform better, but realistically is not a top 5 or even a top 8 driver.

The Red Bull drivers program which helps young talented drivers find their way in motor racing has failed to deliver and now find themselves with their cupboards bare. What next if and when Tsunoda fails because that is a high probability with all the pressure now firmly on his shoulders. Everyone likes to see an under dog succeed and for his career I hope he can perform or he is done with F1 for good.

Posted Using INLEO