Former Red Bull driver Mark Webber thinks Daniil Kvyat's demotion to Toro Rosso is "harsh" but unsurprising due to the ruthless nature of Formula One.
Last Thursday Red Bull confirmed Max Verstappen will step up from junior team Toro Rosso in place of the Russian. The driver switch pre-empts Verstappen's expected move to the senior team in 2017 and was done in order to help Kvyat return to form after a mixed start to 2016.
Webber, who spent seven seasons at Red Bull and had a strained relationship with motorsport advisor Helmut Marko, thinks the move proves F1 is a results business.
"Yeah it is harsh," Webber said. "It's a big business. Things move fast. There's a bit of getting ahead of the 2017 market a bit, getting everything ready. It will be a complete non-topic in three months as usual in Formula One. In F1 you have nowhere to hide. It's up to you every session. You're measured on your own performance."
Despite being out-qualified by teammate Daniel Ricciardo in all four races this year, Kvyat had taken the team's first podium at the Chinese Grand Prix, but attracted controversy in Russia when he crashed into Sebastian Vettel twice in the opening three corners and jeopardised the race of both Red Bull cars. Webber doubts Red Bull will change its driver policy any time soon.
Speaking about the high turnover of young Red Bull drivers, Webber said: "Helmut doesn't see that. He just wants performance. He wants the fastest guys in the best scenario as quick as possible. I'm not surprised. It's probably on the cards even before Russia.
"You could feel there was something brewing. He's had a year there and they don't believe that he's done enough. Normally they wait until the end of the year but that doesn't happen sometimes, particularly with Red Bull. Bang.
"Let's see if Max can break Red Bull records again. Is Max ready? He's got no choice. He has to be."