I remember Williams refusing to release Russell between seasons yet alone a mid-season snaffle. I'm dubious that they'd do it at all, and they'd drive a hard bargain for it if they did.
Red Bull just say that it's happening.
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I remember Williams refusing to release Russell between seasons yet alone a mid-season snaffle. I'm dubious that they'd do it at all, and they'd drive a hard bargain for it if they did.
Red Bull just say that it's happening.
They can do that because Scuderia Toro Rosso was formed in 2006 for bringing on junior drivers through the ranks, it is nothing like the Williams and Mercedes relationship.
Yes, that's my point.
What was the situation when Lewis had COVID? Guess they were ok with a 1 race lease.
Like I said though, definitely different to Red Bull. They can have a new driver each race if they wanted.
Something that I'd forgotten until Scott McLaughlin weighed into the story on the twitters - the two tracks we've been to so far are ones that Lawson didn't have much (if any?) experience of, but we're headed to Suzuka now which he does know having raced there already (both in Super Formula and in F1).
So of course RBR are doing the swap before Suzuka
So of course RBR are doing the swap before Suzuka
Aus is generally a weird track and China isn’t exactly common across other series so it really didn’t help.Something that I'd forgotten until Scott McLaughlin weighed into the story on the twitters - the two tracks we've been to so far are ones that Lawson didn't have much (if any?) experience of, but we're headed to Suzuka now which he does know having raced there already (both in Super Formula and in F1).
So of course RBR are doing the swap before Suzuka
Giving someone 2 races is a load of rubbish either way - they must really be worried about ending up 5th or something in the WCC.
Well Honda's millions have spoken, bye bye Lawson and hello Tsunoda.
I'm glad it's finally done, while I still believe Lawson is a better driver than Tsunoda, he wasn't ready for the Red Bull seat and he now has a few races to get his F1 dream back on track.
It'll be fascinating to see how Tsunoda performs at Red Bull after all this, perhaps the car will suit him and he can do well, who knows.
I'm glad it's finally done, while I still believe Lawson is a better driver than Tsunoda, he wasn't ready for the Red Bull seat and he now has a few races to get his F1 dream back on track.
It'll be fascinating to see how Tsunoda performs at Red Bull after all this, perhaps the car will suit him and he can do well, who knows.
Soldato
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If Tsunoda can perform and challenge Max a bit there is potential for some real fireworks there 
I think this is a little harsh... Lawson deserved more time - but his first two race weekends (including the sprint) have genuinely been pretty disastrous. This isn't a case of Red Bull swapping drivers because of 'Honda's millions'.
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Until the middle of the season when his form might mysteriously disappearIf Tsunoda can perform and challenge Max a bit there is potential for some real fireworks there
Yes Lawson has been disastrous, but not only have Honda doubled their money to RB, but I wonder if RB have realised that nobody in say the UK is ever going to like them and want to really open up a Japanese market now. Somebody in marketing couldn’t pass over the idea of a Japanese driver at the home GP, driving a Honda powered car at a Honda owned track.
It's obvious that plenty of people in just this sub-forum like Red Bull.
Plenty of people in the UK like Red Bull, they probably just don't like Christian Horner.
It's definitely not accurate to think that the driving factor behind Tsunoda being promoted is Honda's money & Red Bull's marketing team trying to appeal to a Japanese audience. They ultimately cannot afford to fall this far behind in the constructors so early on.
I still don't think it was the right thing to do replacing Lawson after just 2 races - but I also don't think they should have given him the seat in the first place.
And also there are those who present an alternative argument without any affiliation to Red Bull...
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There was bad blood between the Sainz and Verstappen camps last time they were teammates, wasn't there? I don't think RBR were looking for a repeat. They should have chased Bottas, IMO.
Sainz probably wanted stability, which RBR are famously bad at. Williams and possibly Audi will be better for his career.
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Soldato
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Further evidence that Lawson should have been allowed 3-4 races to get settled with the RBR.
If a proven, race-winning driver like Sainz is taking a while to get used to a reasonably well behaved car like the Williams; what chance had Lawson of getting to grips with a 4 wheeled razor blade like this year’s RBR in 2 weekends?
They are SO caring