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Liam Lawson has now been sent back to Red Bull’s junior team, Racing Bulls, in a swap with Japan’s Yuki Tsunoda.
Max Verstappen with his Red Bull Racing team (X)
Red Bull’s motorsport advisor Helmut Marko revealed how reigning World Champion Max Verstappen was ‘not happy’ with the F1 team’s decision to swap rookie Liam Lawson for Yuki Tsunoda.
Lawson, who had been given the seat alongside Max Verstappen after Sergio Perez’s exit, was dropped following disappointing performances in Australia and China.
He has now been sent back to Red Bull’s junior team, Racing Bulls, in a swap with Japan’s Yuki Tsunoda.
While the focus has been on Lawson and Tsunoda, Marko subtly hinted at a much bigger issue—keeping Verstappen happy.
The Dutchman has won three consecutive World Titles with Red Bull, but Marko admitted that if the team’s performance declines, his star driver could explore other options.
“We know Max is not happy. But, we need two cars at the front. Not only for the Constructors’ Championship but also to help Max to his fifth World Title. Then, you can achieve more strategically in races,” Marko stated in an interview.
“We can use Yuki’s experience and form now. That counts. At the end of the day, that is to the advantage of the team. And that also means to the advantage of Max.”
“All the top drivers have performance clauses in their contracts,” Marko revealed. “So we have to make sure Max gets a car where he can win.”
Speaking about the decision, Marko acknowledged that the team’s approach to dismissing Lawson might not have been ideal.
“His performance was unfortunately not good enough, and that comes from self-confidence,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live. “We were worried that his confidence was so damaged that he couldn’t bring his normal performance.”
The decision to swap Lawson with Tsunoda has left many wondering about Red Bull’s long-term vision. At the end of the 2024 season, they had chosen Lawson over Tsunoda, only to reverse that decision within two races of the new campaign. Marko explained that Tsunoda had “made a big step” and had become a more confident and well-rounded driver.
“It’s strange—after four years, now in his fifth year, he has a much stronger personality,” Marko said. “He did two very good races, but his strategy didn’t work at Racing Bulls.”
However, many stay on the fence about the Tsunoda promotion, with hordes doubting the Japanese driver’s ability to race alongside someone like Max.
In fact, Former F1 driver Giedo van der Garde described the Red Bull fiasco as a “panic move,” a sentiment seemingly echoed by Verstappen himself as well, who liked van der Garde’s Instagram post.
With Tsunoda now in the second Red Bull seat, the Japanese driver has until the end of the season to prove himself.
(with agency inputs)
