venkyhere wrote: ↑13 Oct 2024, 13:38
He is a junior driver. A guy with practically no experience, who matched up to Tsunoda in 2023. That means the rookie has far more 'raw talent' than Tsunoda.
Tsunoda has 'matured' temperamentally in 2024 (the best season he has had, according to me) and has been consistent.
If the rookie and the experienced driver are given a 6 race shootout match for the 2nd Redbull seat (as announced by Marko), in a car with a terribly narrow operating window, there is 50% chance experience finishes ahead of raw talent and 50% chance vice versa.
My take is, in case experience finishes ahead and Tsunoda is given the Redbull seat, and 5-6 races into 2025, Lawson is suddenly driving superlatively well, in an inferior car, what would they do about it ? Allow them to continue as it is ?
Because, according to my gut feel, some 10-12 races are what someone like Lawson will need to dominate Tsunoda, especially because this is a ground effect car, where the probability of "setting it up optimally" is low - and driver experience matters big big time, in setting up the car.
I want Lawson in the 2nd Redbull seat. He is a proper talent, much unlike Tsunoda who is average, at best. But Helmut Marko is giving him a shootout match to prove himself. The whole Ricciardo comeback into VCARB has royally screwed the young guy's career prospects.