The case of Lawson’s dismissal is not so horrifying simply because it is, in fact, unprecedented even in the harsh world of Formula 1 to have someone dismissed after two races. It is much more about the underlying message.
New Zealand is anything but a motoring nation, and Liam Lawson is anything but a super talent. There is no point arguing with that, because those are FACTS. We have 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 that well, and they also saw Lawson constantly outperformed in every aspect by Yuki Tsunoda, who took his place. And not just by him, but by every other team-mate suffering at Racing Bulls. He considers, obeys every wish, desire, sigh. He changes as a driver, he changes as a person, he subordinates everything to meet expectations. Even so, it is not clear that he will be the one to get a seat at Red Bull...
Anyway, let there be no misunderstanding, I don't think Tsunoda is an RBR-level driver, someone who can be expected to win races, to actively participate in the fight for the constructors' championship. But he is certainly more suited to the task than Lawson. Only that damn money. They don't even allow for the illusion that anything else matters when choosing a driver. And even sadder: They don't even allow for the illusion THAT ANYTHING ELSE MATTERS.
Because if it mattered (in a company with such possibilities as Red Bull, I don't understand this whole approach), they would surely take and seat next to Max Verstappen Fernando Alonso, who has been lying fallow for years, who deserves a much better fate, ready for anything for success, "able even to die" for it. A driver with whom the team could place itself in a different dimension both in the history of sport and in the economy. If instead of chasing business and giga-extra profits, they respected the sporting value of Formula 1 a little, they would say: "we, Red Bull Racing, give the fans what they have always wanted. Hell, let it be Rock'n'Roll!" Because they can do it.
Of course, they can also destroy the young, deserving ones on the assembly line, producing new and new Liam Lawsons every season. It's sad that they exercise this right.
Photo: Planet F1
