Button claims team have short memories after Kvyat's podium in China; Verstappen will partner Ricciardo from Spanish GP
Thursday 19 May 2016 11:35, UK
Jenson Button has criticised Red Bull's "short memories" after they replaced Daniil Kvyat with Max Verstappen for the remainder of the 2016 season.
The decision, which comes following Kvyat's crashes at his home race in Russia, has sent shockwaves around Formula 1 just four rounds into the campaign. The 22-year-old will drive for Red Bull's junior team Toro Rosso, who he raced for in 2014, from the Spanish Grand Prix while Verstappen, 18, makes the step up to partner Daniel Ricciardo.
But while he was heavily criticised for his role in Sebastian Vettel's retirement and Red Bull's lack of points in Sochi, Kvyat has secured the team's only podium of 2016 so far with a third-place finish at the Chinese GP.
"Really?," McLaren driver Button posted on Twitter. "One bad race and Kyvat's dropped, what about the podium in the previous race? #Shortmemories."
Button went through several team changes as a younger driver and felt he was treated unfairly when dropped by Renault in 2002.
"I respect his [Verstappen's] talent but he's got time on his hands," he added.
The Briton wasn't the only one shocked by Red Bull's call. Verstappen has already being tipped by seasoned observers as a future world champion after starring in his debut season, and Sky F1 pundits believe Kvyat's demotion is as much about the Dutchman's ability as the Russian's errors.
Helmut Marko, a Red Bull advisor and the head of their driver development program, was pictured chatting with Verstappen and his father Jos even before Kvyat had twice crashed into Vettel on the opening lap.
"Helmut Marko's been looking for chance to get Max Verstap in the senior team," Ted Kravitz wrote. "Kvyat gave him two. Plus strengthens RB's hand in BIDDING WAR."
"RBR decision smacks of team coming under pressure from VES camp to retain his services," said former McLaren mechanic Marc Priestley. "Little or nothing to do with Russian GP incidents."
Martin Brundle felt that the move eases Toro Rosso relations with Verstappen and Carlos Sainz now split up and that both Horner and Marko's failure to stick up for Kvyat in Sochi was telling.
"Sochi obviously final catalyst to changing Kvyat for Verstappen in a bigger picture," he said. "Future contract for MV, takes tension out of MV v Sainz.
"It was telling that Red Bull didn't really defend Kvyat post Sochi race. In true F1 soap opera style I hope Kvyat really flies now in TR!"
Mercedes and Ferrari had both reportedly been interested in signing 2015's Rookie of the Year Verstappen, despite team boss Christian Horner insisting he had a long-term deal.
Rachel Brookes added: "Perhaps the prospect of Max being the subject of 'silly season' prompted an early move from Red Bull to thwart off Merc and Ferrari?"
Commentator David Croft, meanwhile, wrote: "Wow, that's a quite a decision by Red Bull but is it as much about keeping Verstappen as it is about penalising Kvyat?
Sky Sports News HQ's Craig Slater took exception to Red Bull's statement, in which there was glowing praise for Verstappen.
"If you read the wording of statement it says about the 'exceptional talent' of Max Verstappen and the wish to develop him further," he said. "No question about it, there are a lot of teams sniffing around, looking to get him on board.
"It's very difficult to see how this will enable Kvyat to get confidence back and find form again. Today's moves leave a big question mark over Kvyat's future in the sport."
HIGH September 2014: Told by Helmut Marko and Franz Tost over breakfast ahead of Japanese GP qualifying he will replace Ferrari-bound Sebastian Vettel at the Red Bull senior team in 2015.
LOW February 2015: Crashes on one of his first laps in the new RB11 at the Jerez test, breaking the only front wing Red Bull have available at the time. Team complete some running without it.
LOW March 2015: Debut weekend to forget in Australia as he qualifies six places behind team-mate Ricciardo and then fails to make the start of the race when his car breaks down.
HIGH March 2015: Scores first points for Red Bull in Malaysia, beating Ricciardo to ninth, although both Red Bulls struggle in race after third-row qualifying positions.
LOW April 2015: Early-season form blighted by Red Bull technical issues, with engine failure in China followed by Q1 exit in Bahrain.
HIGH May 2015: Finishes then career-best fourth in Monaco, passing Ricciardo into Turn One at the start. "He's had to show some confidence and some self-belief because he was making mistakes, he wasn't particularly quick and the governor started complaining about him," says Sky F1's Martin Brundle.
HIGH July 2015: Keeps his head in chaotic Hungarian GP to finish second to Vettel amid run of nine points finishes in 10 races.
LOW September 2015: Huge barrel-roll crash in qualifying for the Japanese GP ruins his Suzuka weekend.
LOW October 2015: Error-strewn race at the US GP ends up against the barriers as Red Bull's others F1 drivers - Ricciardo, Verstappen and Carlos Sainz - all impress and score points.
HIGH November 2015: Proves the lead Red Bull runner throughout F1's return to Mexico, finishing fourth.
LOW March 2016: Doesn't take the start of the Australian GP for the second successive year when electrical failure strikes on formation lap.
HIGH April 2016: Wins Driver of the Day award in China after finishing third from sixth on the grid. Also wins praise for calm response to an angry Vettel ahead of the podium ceremony after the German accuses him of causing his crash with team-mate Kimi Raikkonen.
LOW May 2016: Crashes into Vettel twice in quick succession, which also triggers damage to Ricciardo's Red Bull, on nightmare opening lap at home Russian GP. "It completely screwed our race," says team boss Horner. Demoted to Toro Rosso four days later for the remainder of the season.
