Impact of 2023 Dutch GP Intensifies in 2024

The 2023 Dutch Grand Prix brought unexpected twists and lasting effects.

Daniel Ricciardo stepped in to replace Nyck de Vries but faced a setback after crashing during practice at the Dutch Grand Prix, breaking his hand and needing time off.

What went down during the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix weekend?

Ricciardo’s crash happened in the second free practice session at Zandvoort. Instantly, it was clear he couldn’t continue, so AlphaTauri called on Liam Lawson to fill in. At that time, Lawson was busy with the Japanese Super Formula season and had limited experience in Formula 1.

With only an hour of practice and little F1 exposure, Lawson faced a tough challenge. The weather didn’t help either, as both qualifying and the race saw mixed conditions. Despite starting last, he wasn’t far behind Valtteri Bottas. In the race, Lawson managed to climb up the ranks, aided by Yuki Tsunoda‘s penalty. He finished ahead of his teammate on debut, impressing many given the tricky grip levels that day. Ricciardo couldn’t return right away, so Lawson kept the seat for four more races. He nearly scored points in Italy (11th), reached Q3 and scored points in Singapore, and almost got points again in Japan (11th). It was a solid performance from Lawson.

How Lawson complicated things for Red Bull

Ricciardo came back for the United States Grand Prix after healing from his injury and retained his seat for 2024. But Horner admitted this situation gave them a headache because Lawson was close to securing a deal himself.

“He’s certainly turned heads and given us plenty to think about,” Horner said in September 2023, “in particular following his Singapore drive. So he’s doing everything possible to justify a case for a full-time drive, but unfortunately, three into two doesn’t go.”

Why it’s even more complicated now

This put Red Bull in a tricky spot: They have an experienced driver with just five wins under his belt while Sergio Perez is underperforming drastically. Perez has fallen to seventh place in the World Championship standings, trailing Lewis Hamilton by 19 points.

Perez had a shot at proving himself with a front-row start in Belgium but ended up finishing last among the front runners. Christian Horner assured the team during the summer break that Perez would stay alongside Verstappen when racing resumed.

The alternatives were Ricciardo and Lawson. With Ricciardo’s crash at Zandvoort showing they have reliable backups if needed, Red Bull knows they have options if they decide to make changes.

Fans might wonder if Red Bull will make any bold moves soon.

Do you think Red Bull should stick with Perez or give someone else a chance?