🏎 What Albon’s promotion really means for Red Bull

Formula 1 is a harsh environment, and under-performing can quickly damage your career. When Pierre Gasly was promoted to Red Bull’s A-team from Toro Rosso, he knew he had to impress. But even by his standards, Red Bull’s motorsport advisor Dr Helmut Marko has been swift and ruthless by demoting him mid-season. Step forward Alexander Albon. He hadn’t even driven a Formula 1 car until February, yet from the Belgian Grand Prix he’ll be racing one of the fastest cars on the grid! Albon’s great opportunity is a double-edged sword: he must now judge his developing talent against Max Verstappen – one of the best performers on the grid, and someone hitting the peak of his powers. Verstappen destroyed Gasly with his pace, so how will Albon – with only 12 grands prix to his name – stack up? If he can get close, then a coveted 2020 seat could be his. If he can’t, then maybe it’s Daniil Kvyat’s second chance at the big time. One thing is for sure, it’s sink or swim time. Charles Bradley, Global Editor in Chief [motorsport.com]( E D I T O R ' S C H O I C E [Albon replaces Gasly at Red Bull from Spa]( Toro Rosso Formula 1 driver Alexander Albon will join the main Red Bull team from the Belgian Grand Prix onwards, replacing Pierre Gasly. S C O T T M I T C H E L L [Verstappen: Honda progress is testing Red Bull's durability]( Max Verstappen believes Honda's progress with its engine is allowing Red Bull to test the durability of its own parts of its Formula 1 car more than with Renault. A D A M C O O P E R [What Wolff is thinking in Mercedes' driver quandary]( Mercedes faces a choice between Valtteri Bottas and Esteban Ocon for 2020, but its real issue is 2021 and beyond. Thoughts of George Russell and Max Verstappen, and memories of Nico Rosberg, play into the choice too. V A L E N T I N K H O R O U N Z H I Y [Zarco to leave KTM after single MotoGP season]( KTM has announced Johann Zarco will leave its MotoGP outfit at the end of 2019, and will thus not see out his current two-year contract. A D A M C O O P E R [F1 teams reviewing Pirelli target letter for 2020-21]( The FIA has sent a new Pirelli tyre target letter to all the Formula 1 teams, and is now awaiting feedback before its contents are frozen and it's signed off. V A L E N T I N K H O R O U N Z H I Y [Marquez feared last-corner crash due to stuck brake guard]( MotoGP championship leader Marc Marquez says he was briefly expecting to crash at the final corner of the Austrian Grand Prix, after getting his right brake lever guard caught on Andrea Dovizioso’s bike. A D A M C O O P E R / S T U A R T C O D L I N G [Mercedes will not intervene to keep German GP on calendar]( Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says that the Stuttgart manufacturer will not intervene to try to keep the German Grand Prix on the 2020 Formula 1 calendar, despite helping to ensure that this year’s race took place. T O M E R R I N G T O N [Wehrlein: Mahindra missed many Formula E wins in 2018/19]( Ex-Formula 1 driver Pascal Wehrlein believes his Mahindra Racing ABB FIA Formula E team missed out on winning several more races in 2018/19. Copyright © 2019 Motorsport.com, Inc., All rights reserved. Top news of the week. Our mailing address is: Motorsport.com, Inc. 5972 NE 4th AvenueMiami, FL 33137 [Add us to your address book]( Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list](. Copyright © MOTORSPORT NETWORK. All rights reserved.