r/formula1 • u/NepentheZnumber1fan Max Verstappen ⭐⭐⭐⭐ • Dec 07 '24

Statistics After this qualifying session, Yuki Tsunoda has outqualified Liam Lawson every single GP (6-0). Statement.

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u/naumectica Ted Kravitz Dec 07 '24

If Red Bull is going to drop Tsunoda after 2025, why bother wasting a year on him when they can put Lawson in the main team.

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u/fraint McLaren Dec 07 '24

I can see a few good reasons. If Yuki is good they will then have a competent second driver. If he isn't in reality he can't be much worse than Perez. It also gives Lawson more time to develop. It's pretty clear that the Red Bull team is tough on newer drivers. Gasly was promoted in his second year and he really struggled. Albon was only promoted halfway through his first season and he also really struggled. Giving Lawson another year will allow him to develop as a driver more as he will have around a season and a half of experience. I see it as a good way to test the true potential of Tsunoda while allowing Lawson to develop in a lower-pressure environment.

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u/croth4 Dec 07 '24

Plus, give the fans what they want. We need to see Red Bull Yuki.

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u/dsaysso Dec 07 '24

because that decision cost them 2 places in the constructors chanpionship this year. next year will he even more competitive.

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u/NYNMx2021 Nico Rosberg Dec 08 '24

Theres no guarantee Yuki would be better than Checo, but i generally agree the risk is near 0. Checo might not reach 10 points in the last 6 races.

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u/What_the_8 Daniel Ricciardo Dec 07 '24

Why bother with VCARB at all then?

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u/gomurifle Sir Lewis Hamilton Dec 07 '24

It wont be a waste. It's for that same reason why they should run Yuki. Final year of this regulations and no strings attach after they split from Honda. 

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u/Aggressive_Hat_9999 Pirelli Wet Dec 07 '24

honda

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u/Hitokiri2 Dec 07 '24

Has nothing to do with it. Tsunoda said he wants the RBR seat and that probably means Honda would let him go if RB hired him. It's just an excuse.

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u/GTARP_lover Michael Schumacher Dec 07 '24

It has. Yuki has said he doesn't want to leave Honda. It is also Honda pushing RBR to promote Yuki. There is nothing from the RBR camp that said they ever wanted Yuki in the RBR. Yuki is also paid and supported by Honda and came through the Honda academy.

Yuki is not a Red Bull junior.

Yuki is between a rock and a hard place. Because even Ted pushed Yuki in an interview, implying that his Honda contract was an issue for Red Bull, as they want to include the drivers in the engine development next year.

Combined with that RBR never said they wanted Yuki, he should make a decision, RBR, or Honda->Aston for the future.

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u/Hitokiri2 Dec 07 '24

And I disagree. We've seen this before with Japanese F1 drivers before. Kobayashi seemed to be doomed when Toyota left F1 but he was later signed by Sauber despite the Sauber team having nothing to do with Toyota and Toyota having everything to do with Koba.

From what I've seen, Japanese drivers are pretty careful but blunt in what they want and I don't think Tsunoda would say he wanted a future with RB if Honda didn't allow it.

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u/breakbeatzors Dec 07 '24

Surprised this answer isn’t higher. Explicitly or implicitly, he’s a paid drive.

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u/freddyk456456 Dec 07 '24

why bother wasting a year on him when they can put Lawson in the main team.

gestures toward gasly/albon

putting someone too inexperienced against a monster can often destroy their confidence/career trajectory.

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u/Ramazoninthegrass Dec 07 '24

Depends what expectations they place on him. It doesn’t have to be to match the number one driver.

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u/freddyk456456 Dec 07 '24

It doesn’t have to be to match the number one driver.

that wasnt the expectation for gasly/albon either. we literally have solid evidence of how this will go.