Kvyat-Verstappen
Why Did Red Bull Dump Kvyat And Go For Verstappen?
Formula One
The answer is simple, Verstappen is the hottest property in Formula One at the moment and gives Red Bull many more options. Verstappen entered F1 aged just 17 years and performed like a superstar for Torro Rosso during the 2015 season. Max Verstappen is not only quick but also makes very few mistakes and he is a real racer. Drivers like Max Verstappen are rare to find, they usually arise once every 20 years. The only other comparable driver in F1 at the moment is Lewis Hamilton. That’s how good Verstappen is and at 18 he will only get better. Verstappen is part of the Red Bull F1 enterprise within F1 and Torro Rosso is part of that group of companies. Torro Rosso is kind of like a B-Squad, a junior team so it’s easy to promote one driver to the ‘senior’ team. That’s what has happened to Verstappen he has effectively been promoted and Daniil Kvyat has been demoted. Kvyat has long been in the firing line at Red Bull, the 22 year old Russian is fast but inconsistent and is prone to making mistakes. Kvyat joined Torro Rosso in 2014 and when Sebastian Vettel left the Red bull at the end of the 2014 season Kvyat was promoted to the senior team for the 2015 season. However in the last two races of 2016 Kvyat made driver errors at the start of each race. At the recent Russian Grand Prix Kvyat hit the Ferrari driven by Sebastian Vettel twice on the opening lap. The second contact with Vettel wiped the Ferrari driver out of the race. This was the final straw for Red Bull who now had an excuse to get rid of Kvyat in favour of Verstappen. The 2016 F1 season is no more than four races old and Red bull have swung the axe, this despite Kvyat finishing second in the Russian Grand Prix. However were Red Bull too ruthless in demoting Kvyat? The answer is yes and no. It’s a no brainer that Verstappen was either going to be promoted or poached by a rival team so in promoting Verstappen they are effectively protecting what is a very valuable asset. That’s how Verstappen is seen by Red Bull and that is what he has become, a means in which to generate revenue through any number of marketing and sales channels. Predictably Red Bull have signed Verstappen on a long term contract. The long term contract will give Verstappen time to develop and hone his skills but Red Bull management hope he matures quickly and may even have loftier ambitions that Verstappen will deliver a world title within the next two years. So where does that leave Daniel Ricciardo? Ricciardo may well end up leaving Red Bull for Ferrari if the Scuderia team opt not to re-sign Kimi Raikkonen for 2017. This is the behind the scenes chess playing that goes on in F1 between management and drivers. It isn’t new and never be surprised when something surprising happens. For Verstappen its a chance to play with superior Red Bull machinery which he will have a chance to do so at the Spanish Grand Prix. Former Red Bull driver Mark Webber summed up Verstappen’s promotion in what sounded like a reality check for the young Dutch, “He’s got no choice (to be ready). He has to be ready.” said Webber.  Kvyat-Verstappen
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