Jacques Villeneuve believes “it makes sense” that Red Bull have changed their driver line-up after only two rounds of the new Formula 1 season. It was confirmed on Thursday that Liam Lawson will return to junior team Racing Bulls, with Yuki Tsunoda heading the other way.
Lawson struggled and did not score a point over those two race weekends in Melbourne and China. That was compounded by miserable performances in qualifying, having gone only 18th fastest at the first race and then 20th and dead last for both the sprint and the main Grand Prix in Shanghai.
Promoting Lawson over the more experienced Tsunoda last December was already a divisive move and so the decision to swap them around has sparked even further criticism of Red Bull’s decision-making. However, former F1 champion Villeneuve believes they have made the right move.
And the Canadian slammed Lawson’s attitude as he explained why Red Bull are correct to axe him in favour of Tsunoda. “It makes sense because you can have a one bad race, but not two in a row on the same track and not in a Red Bull – that’s the problem,” Villeneuve told NZCasino.
“Had he been in a Sauber, it would have been okay but not in a Red Bull. Not when the other guy, in this case Max Verstappen, manages to be close to the front, even with a difficult car. Lawson does have the experience because he was in a bunch of races last year. When they were team-mates Yuki Tsunoda was quicker. Red Bull needed to do something.
“I don’t think Lawson right now is driving to his full potential. Mentally he is crushed, and it is hard to step out of that. But that’s the price you pay when you get to a big team. It either works right away or you get dropped. That is the risk you are willing to take so you have to accept it.
“He will still be racing in F1. He has the same contract. It doesn’t change the contract the drivers have. They are Red Bull drivers. These two races didn’t do much good for him in the paddock. It’s very simple and that’s the risk. When you start with Red Bull you have to be on it right away. That’s the price to pay for being put in the best team.
“You want to take the risk? Good. But then the opposite side is you’ll pay a dear price if it doesn’t work out. That’s just the way it is, and that’s okay. That’s how it should be. I thought they might give him another three races when they come back to Europe so they could then make a considered decision.
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“You have to bear in mind that he came into F1 very arrogant. He came into F1 last year saying how amazing he would be and he had an attitude. When the results don’t come, it makes everybody react even stronger. It’s actually the worst result ever in a Red Bull car. So, he’s paying his own price there. He set himself up in a way.”
Red Bull’s RB21 is fast but has been very difficult to drive – something Verstappen has pointed out himself despite still being able to produce strong results with it. Villeneuve conceded that is true and does believe Lawson will be able to salvage his career if he can keep his head down and find his form again with the junior team.
He added: “Red Bull have the data that we don’t. So they know that Lawson is just not there and Suzuka is a dangerous track. You don’t want to be there with the wrong mindset. They already have decided that as he appears to be burnt out, then you might as well change him as quickly as possible so maybe he can recover.
“The car is difficult to drive, that’s one thing. Last year he was slower than Tsunoda so is he quick enough? It’s difficult to say. The whole field is closer than it’s ever been so if he’s half a second behind Verstappen, that’s enough to put him last.”
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