Amid the headline grabbing promotion of Dutch teenager Max Verstappen to the Red Bull top tier F1 team and the demotion of Daniil Kvyat to Toro Rosso, it appears that the Faenza based junior team is undergoing some major changes with race engineer Xevi Pujolar departing.
These problems were clearly the mounting tensions between Verstappen and Carlos Sainz, which had divided the team into two squabbling camps within the same garage. The feud fueled by team orders and differing strategies as each camp sought the better solutions for their respective charges.
Pujolar was Verstappen’s engineer at Toro Rosso, prior to that he was with Jean Eric Vergne in the squad and has had a long F1 career which began as assistant engineer to Eddie Irvine at Jaguar in 2002.
When the the news of the Verstappen-Kvyat swap was confirmed, Red Bull consultant Helmut Marko revealed, “There was considerable unrest at Toro Rosso between Verstappen and Sainz. Thus we have internally resolved several problems.”
Signs that some serious firefighting was required within Toro Rosso emerged when the team unexpectedly appointed former Manor team principal John Booth to the role of Director of Racing last month.
Team Principal Franz Tost explained, “With his vast experience I am sure John will help the team raise its game and become a more effective force over a race weekend.”
Reading between the lines it is clear that a figure of authority was required to bring control and quell the disorder brewing in the Toro Rosso camp. Thus the latest developments within the organisation, effectively separate Verstappen and Sainz… for now.
Meanwhile Pujolar and Verstappen wrote on Twitter:
@xevipujolar We did a great job together mate. You will come back stronger then ever!
— Max Verstappen (@Max33Verstappen) May 5, 2016
The question now is: will Pujolar follow Verstappen to Red Bull?
Read the full story at GRAND PRIX 247
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