The first two GPs of the year were challenging for the Austrian team. Horner had to manage a Max Verstappen dealing with a car that was no longer dominant and a Lawson who struggled to adapt to the RB21. A former Red Bull Junior Team driver has shed light on the issue that leads Red Bull to discard its second drivers one after another.
Who better to comment on the situation at Red Bull than a driver who has experienced it firsthand? Jaime Alguersuari, a former driver from Red Bull’s young talent development program, made his F1 debut with Toro Rosso thanks to the Austrian team. Unlike Liam Lawson, he wasn’t immediately discarded despite disappointing performances in his first weekends, as Red Bull decided to keep faith in him for two more years.
Liam Lawson fell out of favor after just a few races
The former Red Bull Junior Team driver shared his thoughts on the Austrian team’s approach toward Liam Lawson, highlighting Red Bull’s lack of patience. “Liam is new—he didn’t know the car, the team, or the tracks, so you have to give him some time.”
In F1, only your last race matters—that’s the reality of the sport, which can bring great satisfaction but also be ruthless. “Liam isn’t as bad as he seems. It was expected that he would struggle at the start of the season, and he wouldn’t have been that bad as the season progressed. You can’t be a hero and then suddenly the worst driver in just one or two races.”
The comparison with his teammate
This is what all Red Bull’s second drivers suffer from. Max Verstappen has been with Red Bull for many years, and on the cars designed in Milton Keynes, only he seems able to perform. What sets the Dutchman apart from other drivers is his ability to adapt to a car that is difficult to drive but engineered for maximum speed.
“In 24 races, no one will be faster than Max in that team. He is probably the best driver to ever race in F1. Many say the car is built for Max, but in reality, it’s built to be as fast as possible. Max is aggressive and likes a sharp front end because a sharp car is always the fastest. You definitely don’t want an understeering car because that’s a slower car.”
Jaime Alguersuari then clarifies: “Whoever Red Bull puts in the other car is lost because they can’t drive this car with Max’s setup—they struggle with too much front-end grip.” Will Yuki Tsunoda be the exception, or will he also struggle in the Red Bull?
The former Red Bull driver went on to explain that the focus in open-wheel racing is no longer just on performance. “F1 has become so psychological. Recovering from what has happened means strengthening your mind, understanding the positives of this decision, and being extremely optimistic. He has to realize that he was never a bad driver.”
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