Red Bull’s Helmut Marko.
Reeling off the list of driver options for Red Bull in their Junior Team, Helmut Marko called out critics who felt the talent pool was running dry.
Traditionally, the two Red Bull Formula 1 teams had clear purposes, one to develop talent, where the likes of Max Verstappen, Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo started out, and then the main team which drivers strived to ultimately reach.
Helmut Marko asks Red Bull junior critics ‘what do they have to say now?’
Nevertheless, the decision to reintegrate Daniel Ricciardo, Alex Albon, and Daniil Kvyat into the Red Bull team in recent years coincided with concerns about the shortage of promising candidates in the Red Bull Junior Team, as compared to previous years.
It is undoubtedly true that Red Bull now possesses a wide range of options within their ranks. They have reserve driver Liam Lawson, along with Ayumu Iwasa competing in Super Formula, and Formula 2 title contender Isack Hadjar, all of whom could be considered for a potential call-up to the Red Bull F1 team in 2025.
Arvid Lindblad, a 16-year-old British racer, is causing quite a stir as he transitions from Formula 4 to Formula 3. He achieved a remarkable victory in his first race in Bahrain and is currently positioned 5th in the Championship standings. Behind him, fellow Red Bull juniors Oliver Goethe and Tim Tramnitz hold their respective positions.
“A few years ago, they were all saying that our juniors would not perform well enough, but what do they have to say now?” Red Bull driver programme boss Marko told Motorsport.com.
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Regarding the aspiring junior drivers who are closer to making a breakthrough in Formula 1, Marko commended Hadjar’s accomplishments. In addition to his responsibilities in Formula 2, Hadjar has also had the opportunity to participate in an FP1 session for both Red Bull teams.
Marko stated, “In Formula 2, Hadjar is performing exceptionally, while Marti, despite his potential, is still prone to making excessive errors.”
When it comes to Hadjar, it’s important to keep in mind that he experienced a spin in the initial race and encountered two technical issues while leading. Despite these setbacks, he currently holds the second position in the championship, solidifying his status as one of the fastest and most reliable contenders this year.
In addition, we have Iwasa, who has climbed to the third position in the current Super Formula standings following two successful Formula 2 campaigns.
Marko said, “Apart from Yuki Tsunoda, we also have another Honda driver, Iwasa, who is performing well in races.”
Despite having two bad starts, he is currently in third place in the championship this year without winning a race.
Marko expressed his delight by saying, “It’s a pleasant dilemma!” as Lawson, who showcased his skills in the absence of the injured Ricciardo in F1 2023, continued to strive for an F1 2025 position.
If Red Bull were to make changes to their Tsunoda and Ricciardo line-up at RB for 2025, Lawson would be strongly considered as a top candidate. This is particularly true because Marko disclosed that the New Zealander has a contract clause that permits him to depart from Red Bull if they fail to provide him with a seat for the upcoming season.
Marko disclosed to Austrian publication Kleine Zeitung that having Liam Lawson as a reserve driver ensures the team has a talented driver, who is contractually allowed to drive for another team in case he doesn’t secure a cockpit with us in 2025.
In F1 2024, Ricciardo’s performance has been challenging compared to Tsunoda’s, as he has only managed to earn five points while Tsunoda has scored 19.
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