De-Vries-Aus the right decision? That’s what the editors say

De-Vries-Hypetrain derailed

Florian Niedermair: Nyck de Vries was certainly not the big hit in Formula 1 and he would never have been, even with more experience. After his strong Williams performance, Red Bull probably fell for the fallacy that with the Formula 2 and Formula E champion, they were buying a fully trained F1 driver. Instead, the 28-year-old turned out to be a classic rookie, making the same rookie mistakes as so many before him while clearly inferior to his teammate. Of course, it’s easy to blame the decision makers at Red Bull for their impatience. Yes, they could have given him more time – could, but didn’t have to. At least in Faenza he got a chance to prove himself as a regular driver in the premier class and that’s more than he’s ever gotten from any other Formula 1 team.

Ricciardo gets his fairy tale ending

Rebekka Bauer: “We now have the tire test first and then we’ll see what’s next,” said Dr. Helmut Marko on Sunday. Two days later Nyck de Vries is out, Daniel Ricciardo celebrates his comeback and the Formula 1 world is upside down. “It would be like a perfect fairytale ending” for Ricciardo if he could end his career at Red Bull. It’s a nightmare for de Vries. But: the right decision. Putting a 28-year-old rookie in the cockpit of the (actual training team!) AlphaTauri was a questionable decision from the start. Liam Lawson is a similar grab bag, but young and fits the Red Bull brand. Yes, it was right to pull the ripcord now: Nyck de Vries last in the drivers’ championship, AlphaTauri last in the constructors’ championship. It can only get better. Alone with the level of popularity that the Honey Badger enjoys. The perfect fairytale story? We will see. Maybe not for Sergio Perez.

An indictment for the Red Bull Juniors

Tobias Muehlbauer: Nyck de Vries was not particularly convincing on any point, Dr. Marko & Co. in vain. With test driver Daniel Ricciardo, a highly decorated man was ready who should certainly be more capable than De Vries. The change is therefore understandable for me, but the fundamental problem does not change at all with this renewed driver change at Red Bull. The fact that a 34-year-old is now taking a seat in the cockpit of the actual junior team AlphaTauri is the final proof of the decline of the Bulls’ once excellent youth work. AlphaTauri and Red Bull used to throw out drivers because a promising junior came up, see Sebastian Vettel, see Max Verstappen. Today those responsible have trouble finding a Formula 1-capable man for the second team.

Boss for Yuki Tsunoda?

Moritz Wimmer: The decision to dismiss Nyck de Vries is not surprising after weeks of public criticism of the Dutchman, but the timing is even more so. Two races before the summer break, the ripcord was pulled at Alpha Tauri and Red Bull, freeing the 28-year-old from the constant questions about his future. The pointless rookie is replaced by Daniel Ricciardo. After his mostly disappointing McLaren seasons, the Australian gets a new, maybe even his last chance. The Red Bull family home sheltered Ricciardo, says they nursed him back up and now set him alongside Yuki Tsunoda for a little over the second half of the season. The constellation means new standards for both drivers. Can Tsunoda hold his own against an 8-time race winner? Can Ricciardo come close to the level that once made him one of the most feared drivers in the field? The next twelve races will tell.

Formula 1 is a meritocracy

Marco Bulitta: Yes, Red Bull may have occupied one of their four cockpits too hastily in the past. But sacking Nyck de Vries is the right decision. As Toto Wolff always emphasizes: “Formula 1 is a meritocracy.” That applies to the drivers as well as to the designers. And if there was one thing de Vries didn’t show, it was performance. The 2021 Formula E champion was not able to repeat his miracle weekend in Monza in a single session. So the decision is tough but justified.