2024 Oracle Red Bull Racing F1 Team

[chrisc90]

I’d have took Sainz.

I think 99% of people put alongside Max would be destroyed.

[DGP123]

Think Lawson is awful. He’s lucky the pool is dry. Having said that, I think going in there now is probably the best time to go in there, as he will only be compared to Perez in 24’. I can’t see him reaching those lows, so being even remotely competitive, will be seen as a good decision.

One of those moves, whereby he will last one or two years, then be throw into the scrapyard at the back of the grid to see his days out.

[WardenOfTheNorth]

How many years has Liam signed for?

If its only a single year contract, it could be that Red Bull wish to keep their options open if they can poach a Piastri or similar from 2026. Especially if they begin to grow concerned that Max may leave early.

[Waz]

Why on earth would Red Bull want a driver that could challenge Max ? Especially one like Sainz, who has a few races each season that are exceptional. Those races can take points or wins away from Max, and in a close battle could be vital.

Just look at Carlos vs Charles in '24. Charles beat him comfortably in the end, but those few races where Sainz was very good ended up being the difference between 2nd and 3rd in the WDC for Charles, who was finishing the next position behind Sainz in most of those races.

Lawson was probably told to go prove himself this year, show some fire. He did that. For 2025 he will be told to bring the car home safely in the points every race, and he will most likely do just that.

[collindsilva]

Why on earth would Red Bull want a driver that could challenge Max ? Especially one like Sainz, who has a few races each season that are exceptional. Those races can take points or wins away from Max, and in a close battle could be vital.

Just look at Carlos vs Charles in '24. Charles beat him comfortably in the end, but those few races where Sainz was very good ended up being the difference between 2nd and 3rd in the WDC for Charles, who was finishing the next position behind Sainz in most of those races.

Lawson was probably told to go prove himself this year, show some fire. He did that. For 2025 he will be told to bring the car home safely in the points every race, and he will most likely do just that.

2025 is not like year 2024 (early season) or 2023/2022, where RB had advantage on rest of the field. it will be very close between RB/MCL/Ferrari and MB, we can even look at mid field closing up the top 4.
Lawson has much to prove and it will not be easy.

[the EDGE]

Why on earth would Red Bull want a driver that could challenge Max ? Especially one like Sainz,

Because they should have eyes on both championships. 2025 will be super competitive

[f1isgood]

I’d have took Sainz.

I think 99% of people put alongside Max would be destroyed.

Yeah pretty much.

[f1isgood]

Why on earth would Red Bull want a driver that could challenge Max ? Especially one like Sainz, who has a few races each season that are exceptional. Those races can take points or wins away from Max, and in a close battle could be vital.

Just look at Carlos vs Charles in '24. Charles beat him comfortably in the end, but those few races where Sainz was very good ended up being the difference between 2nd and 3rd in the WDC for Charles, who was finishing the next position behind Sainz in most of those races.

Lawson was probably told to go prove himself this year, show some fire. He did that. For 2025 he will be told to bring the car home safely in the points every race, and he will most likely do just that.

To be fair, the races where Carlos does well also happen to fall into Max's strengths. If at all anything, I would expect Max to shine even more on precisely the conditions in which Carlos shone over Charles.

[restless]

Why Lawson is preferred over Tsunoda? He did not prove to be the faster driver.
Another "political" decision. RB is going downward in every aspect.

[organic]

Why Lawson is preferred over Tsunoda? He did not prove to be the faster driver.
Another "political" decision. RB is going downward in every aspect.

Most likely because Yuki's place at red bull would never be secure. Honda/amr could come in for Tsunoda at some point and he would want to leave. Potentially in as little as 1-2 years time

[KimiRai]

Why Lawson is preferred over Tsunoda? He did not prove to be the faster driver.
Another "political" decision. RB is going downward in every aspect.

Most likely because Yuki's place at red bull would never be secure. Honda/amr could come in for Tsunoda at some point and he would want to leave. Potentially in as little as 1-2 years time

Disagree, and "Potentially in as little as 1-2 years time" is especially wrong in my opinion. Could you elaborate on that? I just can't see it happening.

[Watto]

There's only pressure if you want to beat Max. Easier said than done of course. All these guys want to win.

Perez's entire downward spiral started at least as far as I am concerned at Miami last year after that defeat. Sure it may happen to others but if the next driver thinks he'll just walk in and beat Max, it would not likely end well. Or maybe he will keep Max honest and that's still great for the team.

In the end, either you are cut out for a top seat or you are not. Maybe neither of them are. We will know next year.

I am pretty sure Nico Rosberg said something along those lines racing again Lewis. So much natural talent when you find a little weakness/somewhere where you are better than him then he goes to work to fix that weakness in his driving. Something you worked so hard at doing at it seems like its so effortless for him to fix the weakness takes a big mental tole.

Yeah, it is basically very similar if not worse with Verstappen since Verstappen is so much more determined than Hamilton to win every race if possible.

In the end, all these drivers are probably within a few tenths at worst if just asked to drive laps in free air under no pressure. However, confidence and things like that amplify the true pace delta substantially.

I somehow have a good feeling about Lawson doing okay. Let's see what happens.

Agree but I think it was an example of being against Max is more the. Just raw pace it’s a mental toll

On performance I think Yuki deserved a shot but I had big concerns about how he would handle that pressure enemy at Vcarb sometimes it seems to get the better of him let alone doing it against Max.

Lawson has a better chance there I think but the rawness could be a test. We will see I guess.

[rbirules]

Why Lawson is preferred over Tsunoda? He did not prove to be the faster driver.
Another "political" decision. RB is going downward in every aspect.

Most likely because Yuki's place at red bull would never be secure. Honda/amr could come in for Tsunoda at some point and he would want to leave. Potentially in as little as 1-2 years time

In my opinion there is a very small chance of that happening, and several things would have to happen for that to play out.

1. Yuki needs to do well at Red Bull.
2. Red Bull needs to have a poor car/PU in 2026, otherwise why leave if you're in a top team?
3. Aston Martin/Honda need to have a very good car/PU in 2026. Very possible with Newey there.
4. Post 2026 Alonso has to be willing to walk away and/or the team decides to part with Lance Stroll. I'm not sure how likely the latter is to happen as that is likely Yuki's best, if not only, chance to join the team. Lawrence Stroll has not been shy about going after top drivers (former WDC) and luring them to the team. IF they build a top car they would likely be going after any and every top driver on the grid and it could be appealing to many of them.

Honda will be supplying engines to one team, so that's two spots, and one it taken up by nepotism for the foreseeable future. I could see Yuki doing alright at Red Bull, but Red Bull looking to upgrade from him in a few years and AMR/Honda having a good but not great car and potentially going after Yuki if Lance pursues other interests, but it's hard for me to envision a scenario where AMR lures Yuki away from a Red Bull team that wants to retain him.

[ispano6]

Why Lawson is preferred over Tsunoda? He did not prove to be the faster driver.
Another "political" decision. RB is going downward in every aspect.

Honda is very upset, that this partnership didn't result in Yuki driving for the main team. Horner is the spiteful husband after the divorce. He will pay for this.

[dialtone]

After many years of enduring Ferrari political climate, it’s refreshing to see a team as good as this to turn into Ferrari level of politics.

It can happen to anyone clearly.

The driver pairing choice is hard to understand under any other condition but political over sporting. I hope for them that they make technical decisions about ‘25 and ‘26 without politics there.