Photo Credit: Getty Images | Red Bull content pool
Over the past few races, drivers have been swapped, subbed-in, and dropped by two reputable teams in the paddock, raising questions on teams and their integrity towards their athletes.
The first driver change was Liam Lawson in March after two Grand Prix weekends. This drop and swap for the second Red Bull seat was met with uproar – fans undoubtedly arguing that two race weekends was not enough time for the New Zealander to prove himself in the top seat, especially counting the pressure of being 4-time World Champion, Max Verstappen’s teammate.
Before the monumental drop and swap between Lawson and Tsunoda, 20-year-old Isack Hadjar got the call-up of a lifetime, becoming a VCARB Formula 1 driver. The frenchmen has quite the racing résumé with significant success in French F4, Formula Regional, and FIA Formula 3 – this all meant he was no stranger to what it took to gain points and promising race results.
Red Bull is known for its burn-and-churn attitude regarding their talent; if a driver is unable to quickly adapt and fit the moulds set ahead of time, they’re disregarded and switched.
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The drama eased for 22-year-old Lawson, allowing him to focus on driving in a supportive environment at VCARB, and working well with his newly appointed teammate, Hadjar. The pairing have been working with their heads down, most media outlets focussing on the new circulating driver change.
22-year-old Jack Doohan has been a full-time Formula 1 racing driver since the 2025 Australian Grand Prix, giving him a boost of self confidence, establishment, and determination to succeed. The Gold Coast resident has been patiently waiting for the perfect opportunity to step up at BWT Alpine, however it was yet again short lived.
“I will keep my head down. keep working hard. The latest chapter is a tough one.” Doohan on replacement prior to Imola 2025.
Looming over the prized possession of a one-in-twenty Formula 1 drivers seat was 22-year-old Argentinian Franco Colapinto, the latest rookie who had shown his ability to live in the cockpit, remaining on the edge each session – sometimes resulting in catastrophic incidents that cost thousands for the team supporting the young-gun.
Colapinto was rewarded with the seat after Doohan endured six unsuccessful and unlucky races; the reflection of events don’t adhere to what we have seen in the feeder series, unlatching the expectations put on the Australian.
The conversation than began of contract integrity and rookies – why is it that a contractual obligation isn’t fulfilled when a rookie is still gaining momentum and performing at the expected level of majority of the other rookies in the paddock. Obviously there are contract clauses that enable a party to withdraw from obligations, rewarding yet another driver to take the position, however when will a tough sport learn to give leniency?
The story following Doohan’s demotion was one of those fuelled by hatred online and the inability to match Pierre Gasly’s performance, however BBC has reported that the swap for Colapinto was allegedly brought on by financial backing in Latin America that Flavio Briatore was keen to access. The Argentinian bombshell was given five races to succeed, or he will see a similar fate as Doohan.
The five-race-ultimatum was discarded by Briatore, the executive advisor debunking the statement, suggesting that there were no deadlines ahead for the 22-year-old speedster. This is contradictory to what fans were led to believe, with an alleged swap-swap situation between the Argentinian and Australian on the cards as the season was to unfold.
“Franco will race as many times as necessary. I read somewhere that he would do five races, but no, there’s no set number of races. He needs to be fast, not crash and score points. I ask him only three things — not ten. If he does those well, he can stay driving forever,” Briatore on the performance deadline for Colapinto.
Prior to Imola, Briatore took to Sky Sports Italy, suggesting he expected more from Doohan, and that he assumes the Australian needed a break from the travelling circus.
Fast forward to Barcelona, the rumour-mil hasn’t rested, eliminating hopes that silly season would be less inclined to circulate drama. However, silly season began by race three of the Formula 1 calendar, eliciting more interest in who will be replaced, or who will come into the sport, and the pressure on the athletes who have to somehow drown out the doubts.
Media in sports can be brutal on impact, but from the unsettling events of replacements so early on in the season, that grilling only becomes more harsh as the world prepares itself to receive the latest changes, driver swaps, and possible team changes that could be set for the remaining races.
Team changes began with Oliver Oaks at BWT Alpine, handing in his resignation after Miami’s Grand Prix, sending shock-waves through the paddock. This is only the beginning as now alleged rumours of Christian Horner and Frédéric Vasseur whirl around in a what-could-be rumour of Red Bull and Ferrari’s affairs.
This isn’t the first time in the sport’s history that contractual integrity has been brought into the spotlight, however the continuous disregard for contract obligations has been a large concern for fans, forging questions towards the teams and their decision makers.
Now with the triple-header complete, there is a break for two weeks before fifteen races seal the fate of the championship, currently led by Oscar Piastri with the second spot in contention between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen. 2025 marks a fierce season of racing and news, there will undoubtedly be more to come as the season unfolds.
Until next time,
Tayla Talks x
Tayla Talks 
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