Red Bull Racing, a dominant force in Formula 1, has consistently faced one persistent challenge: finding a driver capable of consistently matching, or even approaching, the performance of their prodigy, Max Verstappen. This quest has led to a revolving door of drivers, each hopeful of securing a long-term seat, only to find themselves replaced by the relentless demands of the team.
The saga began with Daniel Ricciardo, a proven race winner. While initially a strong competitor, the growing dominance of Verstappen and internal team dynamics led to Ricciardo's departure at the end of 2018. His replacement, Pierre Gasly, struggled to adapt to the RB15, facing immense pressure and a significant performance gap to Verstappen. After just half a season, Gasly was demoted back to Toro Rosso (now AlphaTauri/RB).
Alexander Albon stepped into the breach, showing flashes of potential but ultimately lacking the consistency required to challenge Verstappen. Despite some podium finishes, Albon's performance remained inconsistent, and he was replaced by Sergio Perez for the 2021 season.
Perez, rescued by Christian on what appeared to be the end of his F1 career as he sat on the Abu Dhabi podium, had earned himself the coveted RedBull second seat. An experienced racer with a reputation for consistency, initially provided a stable presence. However, the gap between Perez and Verstappen has widened, particularly in qualifying. While Perez has secured race wins, his overall performance has been marked by inconsistency, fueling speculation about his future with the team. The constant pressure to perform at a level close to Verstappen is immense, and few drivers have managed to sustain it.
This brings us to the present, and the emergence of Liam Lawson. Lawson’s impressive super-sub performances in 2023, while Perez struggled, highlighted the depth of talent within the Red Bull program. However, his limited opportunities and the team’s apparent preference for established drivers suggest that Lawson’s path to a permanent Red Bull seat is fraught with challenges.
Tsunoda has shown significant improvement, demonstrating maturity and speed. His consistency and development make him a strong contender for a future Red Bull seat. If Perez continues to falter, Tsunoda is likely to be promoted, potentially replacing Lawson's current position within the program.
However, even if Tsunoda were to secure a Red Bull seat, the fundamental challenge remains: the immense pressure of partnering Verstappen. The Dutchman's exceptional talent and the team's unwavering focus on maximizing his performance create an environment where any teammate faces an uphill battle.
The Red Bull driver seat next to Verstappen has become a crucible, testing the limits of even the most seasoned drivers. The pattern is clear: consistent performance is non-negotiable, and the gap to Verstappen must be minimized. For Lawson, and potentially Tsunoda, the dream of a long and successful career at Red Bull could quickly turn into a nightmare, mirroring the experiences of their predecessors. The revolving door continues to spin, and the search for Verstappen's ideal partner remains an ongoing challenge for the dominant team.
But is it the drivers who are incapable? Or is it the philosophy Red Bull have chosen to follow by designing an incredibly pointy front-end race care that caters in most exclusively to Max?
