In a surprising twist, Red Bull’s consultant, Dr. Helmut Marko, has revealed a complete reversal of plans for their sister racing team. Recently, Peter Bayer, the new CEO of the team formerly known as Alpha Tauri, shared, “We had lots of discussions about the future of the team, and our shareholders said, ‘we want you to continue and educate young drivers, but we also want you to be successful’. However, Bayer candidly admitted, “You can’t have both… you can’t have two young – inverted commas – drivers in the team.”
Bayer emphasized the importance of retaining experienced driver Daniel Ricciardo for the 2024 season, marking a break from the team’s tradition of nurturing two young drivers simultaneously. Ricciardo’s presence has been credited with helping Yuki Tsunoda manage his emotions during races and improve his performance. However, just as this strategy seemed set, Dr. Marko indicated a return to focusing on junior drivers. He stated that the shareholders want the team to operate as a junior team, casting doubt on Ricciardo’s future role.
Dr. Marko highlighted the challenges faced by Sergio Perez, noting a clause in Perez’s contract requiring him to be within 100 points of his teammate by the summer break. Perez’s underwhelming performance has forced Red Bull to reconsider their plans, potentially opening the door for Ricciardo to step up.
Meanwhile, Bayer’s emphasis on Ricciardo’s role was not entirely dismissed. There’s a chance that should Perez falter, Ricciardo could get a last shot to prove his worth. On the other hand, Marko vented his frustrations over the stagnation of new drivers entering F1. He pointed out that this year, all teams named the same drivers from the previous season, a first in F1’s history. Marko is thrilled about rookie Oliver Bearman driving for Haas F1 in 2025, arguing it’s crucial for young talent to have opportunities.
The Red Bull junior program has produced successful drivers like Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen. However, it has struggled recently, with Yuki Tsunoda being one of the few successful recruits. Marko remains optimistic about the future, mentioning promising juniors like Isack Hadjar and Arvid Linblad, who have shown potential in F2 and F3 respectively.
During the summer break, Marko plans a detailed evaluation of the junior drivers’ performances. He praised Hadjar’s resilience despite multiple setbacks and Lindblad’s impressive rookie season. He also mentioned Ayumu Iwasa, competing in Japan’s Super Formula, as another talent to watch.
Yet, despite these promising talents, Lawson’s recent test at Silverstone left Red Bull ‘underwhelmed.’ Christian Horner downplayed the significance of the test, but with Perez under pressure, Lawson could still be a crucial player in Red Bull’s lineup. As decisions about Ricciardo and Perez loom, only time will reveal the ultimate fate of these drivers.
Red Bull’s dramatic shift in strategy showcases the constant ebb and flow within the high-stakes world of Formula 1. With shareholders pushing for a focus on young talent and veteran drivers like Ricciardo and Perez facing uncertain futures, the upcoming season promises to be a compelling mix of experience and raw potential.
