The hot news of Daniel Ricciardo making his F1 comeback after his short hiatus has made many happy. However, while celebrations are afoot, the nagging feeling at the back of everyone’s minds is the heartbreak Nyck deVries must be feeling. Many blame the cut-throat system at Red Bull, while others agree with the decision. The sad truth is, that it is a complex mix of both
Being given the short duration of 10 races to prove himself, Nyck deVries failed to impress at AlphaTauri. While one would expect a rookie to get a better shot at their first season, Red Bull has blamed a lot of factors to make this decision.
Back to the grid and it feels this good. 🤩 pic.twitter.com/I822arT99G
— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) July 11, 2023
Although AlphaTauri is the weakest car on the grid, its comparisons to Yuki Tsunoda and Ricciardo killed deVries’ short-lived F1 career.
Problems with Nyck deVries that did not impress
According to sources, the problem lay within deVries’ sim data. While Tsunoda and Ricciardo were more experienced, deVries didn’t come close to matching the two drivers. Further, being one of two drivers with 0 points on the board, the odds were not in the Dutchman’s favor.
DeVries failed to match the sim benchmarks set by Tsunoda and was also given the chance to prove himself on the track. However, that didn’t prove anything either. A series of disappointing qualifying rounds at the bottom of the grid, and no improvements on Sunday- have ultimately put an end to his F1 dreams.
One could argue that even Nikita Mazepin got a better chance from Haas, despite being notorious for his problems on track. But Red Bull is known for its strife for perfection. Failing to live up to these ruthless standards has been an elimination process for the team.
Why was Daniel Ricciardo chosen to replace deVries?
Ricciardo sat back enjoying his time off and having fun with the Red Bull squad. In fact, it was Liam Lawson’s name that popped up as a potential replacement for deVries. Although, this could mean there are bigger storylines to be unveiled.
Firstly, with AlphaTauri undergoing a rebranding, Ricciardo is the more marketable driver. This will help bring in sponsors to help the cause. Further, the impressive Lawson could crack under the pressure if thrown to the wolves mid-season. Red Bull would not want his development disturbed by the poor-performing AT04
Yesss!! So happy to hold on to that one, car was good all weekend 🙏🏽🏆
Our early pit strategy was a gamble for track position and paid off, thank you @mugen1973 @redbull | @RodinCars | Giltrap Group | Cumulo9 | Tony Quinn Foundation | Turners Cars | Porter Group CE pic.twitter.com/fE54L3rBW0
— Liam Lawson (@LiamLawson30) May 21, 2023
This means that the team is ready to pave the way for Lawson’s career in F1. Depending on Ricciardo’s performance, he could get the seat next season.
Secondly, the pressure is on for Ricciardo. The Checo factor is still in play. If the deVries situation is anything to go by, Sergio Perez should be worried as well. Should he incur a similar fate at the end of the season, Ricciardo needs to make a mark on the bosses to have a shot at the Red Bull seat.
