This season Max Verstappen made history by becoming the youngest ever Formula One race winner at the age of just 18 at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix. This happened just after Daniil Kvyat was demoted to Red Bull’s junior team Toro Rosso after receiving loads of criticism due to his actions at the 2016 Russian Grand Prix. Kvyat hit Sebastian Vettel twice, resulting in the German to retire from the race. Although Kvyat’s actions were rash, I feel that he shouldn’t have been demoted to Toro Rosso. Daniil has produced some really good drives in the past and needed some time to be a little more responsible.
Verstappen capitalized on the situation and earned a seat at Red Bull. Although he was superb over the course of the season, he showed that he can falter under pressure. Max is an amazing driver with a lot of skill but he lacks the important quality of patience. At races such as Spa and Japan, his lack of patience and unorthodox style of defending was heavily criticized. If Verstappen is to be a world champion in the future, these moments mustn’t occur. In my opinion if Max would have stayed at Toro Rosso, he would have been a much more complete and reliable driver.
Those who have benefited:
His old teammate Carlos Sainz Jr. has become a very mature driver simply by staying put. Toro Rosso is team that usually competes in the midfield and being in that position can teach a driver a lot of valuable lessons. Sainz has become much more patient, a quality that will yield wonders in the future. He drove superbly at Spain and USA and is gradually becoming much better.
Another Red Bull Racing driver who has benefited a lot by spending several years in the midfield is Daniel Ricciardo. Ricciardo spent his first three years in Formula One learning in the midfield. In 2013, Ricciardo impressed with Toro Rosso and earned a seat at Red Bull for 2014. By that time Ricciardo had ripened and that resulted in 3 victories in his first season at Red Bull. Daniel is very consistent and today a large number of people consider him as the best driver on the grid.This simply proves that the experience gained in the midfield is precious and that can surely help the driver be much more successful.
My Opinion On The Same:
Management has often been an issue at Red Bull which has to eliminated for better results and a much more peaceful team. Helmut Marko has found some incredible talent but if both, Red Bull and Toro Rosso are to be successful, the drivers must be managed perfectly.
