Szafnauer: Racing Point's driver shake-up adds new dynamic to team

Racing Point team principal Otmar Szafnauer has insisted the change in drivers this season, with Esteban Ocon being replaced by Lance Stroll, has added a "new dynamic" to the newly-named team.

The team, formerly named Force India, haven't had the greatest start to the season, with Racing Point joint eighth-place with Toro Rosso in the constructors' standings after two races.

Stroll impressed on his debut for the British side in Melbourne - managing a P9 finish in Australia - with Sergio Perez managing a points-finish in Bahrain last weekend.

It's been a mixed start, but despite the team's full potential yet to be shown this campaign, Szafnauer believes the duo of Stroll and Perez are settling into the season well and becoming good team-mates.

"It's different for many reasons, but it's very good," Szafnauer said. "The share work together, try to get the best out of the car."

In the last couple of seasons, the likes of Perez and Ocon always had a bit of a fierce rivalry happening on-track. Many criticised Racing Point with its decision to drop Ocon, who's now the reserve driver at Mercedes.

Despite this, Szafnauer believes the team made the correct decision and has claimed the young Canadian is already meeting the team's expectations of him.

"He's good," the Racing Point team principal said on Stroll. "He's young, he's 20-years-old. With a couple of years, he'll only get better and better at this. We can teach him some stuff.

"And it's one of those things that where with experience, you learn. He's very good, very talented. Great feedback, knows what he likes with the car. And he's a good driver. It's a different dynamic. It's good."