Why RedBull had to play musical chairs

Every ten years, there emerges a driver with 'future world champion' written all over him. In 2007 it was Lewis Hamilton. This year, it is Max Verstappen.

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The 'Flying Dutchman' made his debut for Torro Rosso a mere 14 months ago as a 17 year old team mate to Carlos Sainz Jnr. There was initial shock at the announcement when it was made but Verstappen - much like Hamilton in his debut season, hardly put a foot wrong all year and at the start of it, quickly cast his critics aside. He continued to show potential race by race and proved his fearlessness by pulling some outrageous overtaking manoeuvres where others might have thought impossible. His defiance in seeding position to his team mate in Singapore last year after a request from the pit wall to do so was actually applauded by the team boss Franz Tost! He has absolute confidence in his ability and knows how fast he is. Whats more, he also knows that given the same equipment, he could beat anyone. Whether his inexperience would prove that to be the case is irrelevant - in Verstappen's mind, he is capable.

Dani Kvyat on the other hand, is mentally fragile and his performances have not at any time, sparked a single debate that here lies a possible future world champion. He is a journeyman. A lucky champion in 2013 of the GP3 series in what was largely a below-par entry list, the Russian was thrust into the F1 limelight at Torro Rosso a year later and when all is said and done, hasn't raised a blip on the radar.

Fast forward to last Sunday's Russian GP and his collisions with Sebastian Vettel. Sure, he registered a podium finish the previous race in China but, with no praise of significance from his own team on the 'ballsy' move he made on Vettel at the first corner in Shanghai, and the very public questioning of his mind set following the Sochi debacle, perhaps yesterdays news was inevitable...

"Well, of course I was very happy," Verstappen told the Red Bull website yesterday. "A bit shocked as well -- I didn't expect it, but yes I'm very happy with the opportunity of course. I have to say a big thank you to Red Bull and Dr Helmut Marko and now I just can't wait to jump into the car."

Team boss Christian Horner said: "Max has proven to be an outstanding young talent. His performance at Toro Rosso has been impressive so far and we are pleased to give him the opportunity to drive for Red Bull Racing."

And there you have it... Kvyat just doesn't 'do it' for RedBull. Verstappen does. Period. The team have been aware since the middle of last year that Ferrari and Mercedes have been making advances to the Dutchman (probably with a few bags of Haribo sweets and some lollies such is his age) but the management at RedBull have obviously seen this as a chance to ward them off. But for how long?...

"To be honest, I was always very happy at Red Bull," Verstappen declared. "I never saw reason to change and of course with this opportunity there is no reason to change so I'm happy to be here."

Verstappen's contract runs out at the end of 2017 yet many within the paddock now beleive by promoting him early into the 'proper' RedBull team, they have now triggered a clause that will keep him at the Milton Keynes base for a further two years minimum.

Kvyat? He'll probably go the same way as other RedBull 'proteges' and be dumped and forgotten about. Pity really, cos his results have shown him to be world champion material - haven't they?...