Red Bull Racing’s driver management strategy has received considerable scrutiny in recent times, given their rotation of four drivers (Tsunoda, De Vries, Ricciardo and Lawson) within VCARB over just the past year alone. But beyond discussions over driver selection lies an even more critical concern which does not receive enough spotlight – VCARB’s lack of competitiveness.
The Struggle for Competitiveness at VCARB
Red Bull Racing has experienced an unexpected setback this year in its development race against rivals McLaren and Ferrari, falling further behind than anticipated. This setback has had an immediate effect on VCARB, who expected closer collaboration between themselves and Red Bull to reap benefits; after an encouraging initial performance improvement period has seen stagnated performance as drivers such as Yuki Tsunoda struggle to secure points.
The data from wind tunnel tests hasn’t translated into expected performance upgrades, leading to a disappointing second half of the season for VCARB. This stagnation has not only affected Tsunoda but also Ricciardo, with both drivers missing out on points post-summer break.
Implications for Tsunoda and Lawson
VCARB presents drivers with an insurmountable challenge. While Red Bull can assess driver performance independently from car competitiveness, being in a faster car naturally enhances market value; unfortunately for Tsunoda and Lawson however, current VCARB form necessitates competing for lower positions, making it harder to stand out within Formula 1.
VCARB faces uncertainty for the remainder of this season due to lack of points and pace; nevertheless, hope exists for improvement and better results before its conclusion.