Breaking:Helmut Marko confirms Max Verstappen Red Bull…. read more
- Helmut Marko has confirmed that Max Verstappen is unhappy with Red Bull’s decision to swap drivers after just two races. This comes after the team announced on Thursday that Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda would swap places for the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix, despite Lawson’s struggles. The decision is not a reflection of Lawson’s potential but more about his performance in the first two races, where he failed to score any points and struggled in qualifying.
Marko acknowledged that Lawson had experienced a series of unfortunate events. He missed significant testing time in Bahrain due to mechanical issues, which affected his performance in subsequent races. Additionally, he encountered more challenges during practice sessions, notably in Australia, where he lost valuable time. As a result, Lawson’s confidence took a hit, leading to more mistakes as he tried harder to perform. Marko also highlighted that the car was difficult to drive and not the fastest, which made it harder for Lawson to adapt.
Despite these struggles, Marko emphasized that Lawson’s demotion wasn’t an easy choice. He made it clear that Red Bull wasn’t abandoning him, as he would remain within the team’s ecosystem and return to the Racing Bull team. Marko pointed out that this decision wouldn’t have been possible for a driver in another team, where Lawson might have lost his F1 seat entirely. He compared Lawson’s situation to that of Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon, who also faced setbacks at Red Bull but later recovered and became highly regarded F1 drivers.
The decision to swap drivers after such a short period has been met with criticism, particularly from Verstappen. The reigning world champion is displeased with the team’s decision to drop Lawson, feeling that the change might disrupt the team’s cohesion. However, Marko defended the swap, stating that it was necessary for Red Bull to have two competitive cars at the front. This, he explained, is vital not only for the Constructors’ Championship but also to support Verstappen’s pursuit of a fifth world title. Having two strong drivers would provide strategic advantages in races, and Marko believes that Tsunoda’s experience and current form would benefit the team, ultimately helping Verstappen in his quest for another title.
In conclusion, while Verstappen may not be happy with the driver swap, Marko stressed that the decision was made with the team’s best interests in mind, particularly in terms of achieving success in both the Constructors’ Championship and Verstappen’s individual goals. The focus is on maximizing team performance, and Marko believes that Tsunoda’s experience will contribute to this goal.
