The case of Lawson's dismissal is not only disturbing because it is actually unprecedented even in the world of Formula 1 for someone to be fired after two races. Rather, it is because of its subtext.
New Zealand is anything but a car nation, and Liam Lawson is anything but a super talent. There is no point in arguing about that, because these are FACTS. We have already seen real examples of both, and they certainly do not look like the former Red Bull Racing driver and his background. Helmut Marko and Christian Horner knew this well and watched as Lawson's successor Yuki Tsunoda was constantly outperformed in all indicators. And not only him, but also every teammate suffering in Racing Bull. He takes into account, complies with all the demands, desires, sighs. He changes as a racer, he changes as a person, he subordinates everything to comply. Despite this, it is not clear that he will get a place in Red Bull...
Otherwise, let it not be misunderstood, I do not think that Tsunoda is a driver at the level of RBR, someone who is expected to win races, to actively contribute to the fight for the constructors' championship. But he is certainly more suitable for this role than Lawson. But damn money. They will no longer have the illusion that anything else matters when choosing a driver. But even sadder: no longer the illusion that ANYTHING ELSE MATTERS.
Because if it made sense (in a company with such possibilities as Red Bull, I don't even know what this whole approach is), they would definitely take and put next to Max Verstappen the neglected, much better, willing to succeed, for whom "he would even die" Fernando Alonso. A racer with whom the team could historically and economically place itself in a different dimension. If instead of trading and chasing huge profits, they valued the sporting values of Formula 1 a little more, they would say that "we, Red Bull Racing, will give the fans what they have always wanted. Hell, let it be Rock'n'Roll!" Because they can afford it.
True, they can also do that, destroying young people who deserve a better fate on a treadmill, and producing new and new Liam Lawsons every season. It's sad that they actually exercise this right.
Photo: Planet F1
