Helmut Marko explains Max Verstappen’s immediate reaction to Red Bull dropping…read more
The 2025 Formula 1 season at Red Bull has had a rocky start, prompting the team to make swift changes to their driver lineup. After the Australian and Chinese Grands Prix, Red Bull decided to take action by replacing Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda. While Max Verstappen had a solid performance with podium finishes in Melbourne and strong points in China, Lawson struggled throughout the races, failing to make it past Q1 in all three qualifying sessions and never threatening the points.
Given Red Bull’s previous decision to drop Sergio Perez, due to his failure to provide adequate support for Verstappen in the fight for the constructors’ championship, the move to replace Lawson seems logical from that perspective. However, Lawson’s time with the team was notably brief compared to other drivers, making the decision feel even more abrupt. The change was a surprise to many, especially since Lawson had only been with Red Bull for a short time, and his performances hadn’t given the team a true sense of where he stood.
Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s chief advisor and a key figure in the decision-making process, shared details of the situation in a recent interview. Marko admitted that Verstappen was not immediately on board with the decision to replace Lawson. When asked whether Verstappen would have preferred Lawson to continue with Red Bull, Marko confirmed that this was true, noting that Verstappen had indeed expressed his desire for the team to give Lawson more time.
However, Marko and the team explained to Verstappen that, to secure the constructors’ championship, they needed both cars in the top 10 consistently. Verstappen made a case for Lawson, arguing that the car’s difficulty in handling contributed to Lawson’s poor performance. Max suggested that if the car were easier to drive, Lawson’s results would improve, and that the team needed to work on improving the car’s setup to support their second driver better.
Marko acknowledged Verstappen’s point but noted that they were already working on car development, though it was unclear how quickly improvements could be made. When asked if Verstappen had pointed out that the car’s operating window needed to be widened to help the second driver, Marko confirmed that this was one of the reasons Verstappen felt the decision to switch drivers was premature. Verstappen, himself, had mentioned that even he found the car extremely difficult to drive, suggesting that Lawson’s struggles were not entirely his fault.
In replacing Lawson with Tsunoda, Red Bull has given the 24-year-old Japanese driver a final chance to prove himself in a top team. Tsunoda’s dream of racing for Red Bull seemed to be dashed earlier in the season when the team chose Lawson over him, but now he has been offered a lifeline. However, his debut with Red Bull is a high-pressure situation, especially with the car’s challenging handling and the expectation to perform well, particularly in front of the Japanese fans at Suzuka.
Interestingly, Red Bull’s senior figures were not initially in agreement about promoting Tsunoda. Adrian Newey, in particular, was not a fan of the idea before he left for Aston Martin. This lack of alignment within the senior ranks points to a broader issue within Red Bull’s junior program. The decision may prompt regret, as Red Bull could have looked beyond their academy for potential driver options last season, particularly if they intend to continue competing for the constructors’ title in the upcoming seasons.
