They say he’s been really struggling with the car, really struggling with the tyres, and that it’s a bit of a mess. It’s been a surprise to a lot of people that he’s been as far off the pace as he has been.”
It seems that Red Bull may be hoping that a change in driver will bring about better results for the team moving forward. Tsunoda, who impressed in his rookie season last year, will now have the opportunity to show what he can do in the competitive Red Bull car.
Only time will tell if this driver swap will prove to be the right decision for Red Bull, but it is clear that they are not willing to settle for subpar performances from their drivers.
Ide was dropped by Super Aguri after just four races in 2006 following a series of on-track incidents. The team cited a lack of experience as the reason for the decision, although Ide did return for one more grand prix later in the season.
Lawson will be hoping his demotion is not as terminal as Ide’s, with the New Zealander needing to show he can adapt and improve quickly if he is to have a future at Red Bull Racing.
He might feel some pressure to perform well and prove himself now that he has been given this opportunity. However, Tsunoda has shown potential in the past and if he can harness that and continue to improve, he could do well in the Red Bull team. It will be interesting to see how he adapts to the new challenge and if he can rise to the occasion.
But with Perez out of the picture, and no other experienced options available, Red Bull had to look within their own talent pool for a replacement. Tsunoda, with his F1 experience and potential, emerged as the best choice for the team.
While there may be concerns about Tsunoda’s lack of pre-season testing in the car and his familiarity with the team, Red Bull have seen enough potential in him to give him this opportunity.
Only time will tell if Tsunoda can deliver the results that Red Bull are looking for, but for now, all eyes will be on him as he makes his debut at the Japanese Grand Prix.