The question over whether Max Verstappen will have a new team-mate at Red Bull next F1 season is quickly morphing into a debate around who it should – and will – be alongside the Dutchman.
With Sergio Perez’s exit from the Milton Keynes squad seemingly pre-ordained following the year-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, even though Perez remains defiant in the face of talks with the team, attention is turning to the fight between Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson over the second RB21 seat.
Despite having seniority and significantly more experience, the smart money is currently on the former losing out to the latter and reports are starting suggest that will be the case.
Tsunoda undoubtedly has pace, but Red Bull has long been hesitant to even consider him for a promotion. The impression the team gives is that it does not feel he has the correct temperament to sit alongside Verstappen, regardless of ability.
Meanwhile, since his five-race stint last season, Lawson has been the long-term heir apparent for the seat – even if the original plan was to give it to Daniel Ricciardo first.
However, F1 fans see the situation differently, or rather, they believe the situation should be different.
In a recent poll conducted by RacingNews365, an overwhelming majority of the over 8,000 respondents threw their weight behind Tsunoda when asked who should be Verstappen’s next Red Bull team-mate.
Leave a Reply