Former F1 driver, Jaime Alguersuari, has weighed in on Red Bull Racing’s decision to replace Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, and claimed the Kiwi driver did not became the worst driver in two weeks, highlighting the impossible task of measuring up to ‘probably the best F1 driver ever’, Max Verstappen.
Former F1 driver Christian Danner believes that Red Bull Racing’s decision to bring Yuki Tsunoda in and demote Liam Lawson to Racing Bull is not appropriate and thinks the team should focus on making changes to a car that the Japanese driver ‘is not looking forward to driving at all’.
Helmut Marko has admitted that Liam Lawson’s performances were “not good enough”, but insists the move to replace him for Yuki Tsunoda at Red Bull is “not a demotion”.
Helmut Marko has admitted that Max Verstappen “is not happy” with Red Bull and its decision-making after Liam Lawson was demoted back down to Racing Bulls.
Helmut Marko has admitted that the Racing Bulls are “much easier to drive” compared to the RB21 that has been designed for Red Bull Racing in 2025.
It’s been a day full of stories flying out from Red Bull Racing and Milton Kenyes, as the swap between Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda was offically annoucned today. At the Austrian’s team factory in England, a crisis meeting was held to discuss how to imrpove their pace, but Helmut Marko was not present. As well as that, Max Verstappen announced that he will be racing with a spevial helmet for the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix.
The technical ‘crisis’ meeting at Red Bull Racing’s factory in Milton Keynes is now behind us, where Max Verstappen, among others, discussed possible solutions to halt the downward spiral of the Austrian team. GPblog has learned that it was a positive meeting, although the world champion now has the thought: Everything has to be implemented and be successful.
Red Bull Racing motorsport advisor Helmut Marko has conceded the team made the wrong choice by promoting Liam Lawson to partner Max Verstappen after the Kiwi was dropped after just two races.
Red Bull motorsport consultant Helmut Marko has admitted the team made a mistake by promoting Liam Lawson to its line-up this year.
The team confirmed today it has dropped Lawson with immediate effect. He will return to the other Red Bull-owned F1 team, Racing Bulls, while Yuki Tsunoda will take his former seat.
While technical trouble in testing meant Lawson completed the fewest laps of almost any driver, Marko singled out the problem which struck in final practice at Melbourne as being particularly costly.
“In Australia he had a turbo failure in the third practice session,” Marko told OE24. “The mileage he lost as a result is costing him.
“What he has delivered so far has, of course, been too little. We need a strong second driver, if only for team strategy.”
The team’s decision to promote Lawson instead of Tsunoda at the end of last season was widely questioned at the time. Tsunoda tested for Red Bull late last year but Marko said the team was fully behind the decision to promote Lawson at the time.
“Yuki was too inconsistent,” he said. “That’s why we unanimously decided on Lawson.
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“But under the increased pressure, he wasn’t able to perform – right from the first day in Australia. Then he got caught in a downward spiral. It’s like a struggling boxer – it’s very difficult to get out of. In that sense, it was a mistake.”
Tsunoda has out-qualified Lawson for all three races so far this year, including the sprint event at Shanghai. However Marko does not believe Racing Bulls’ car is a match for the Red Bull.
“It’s true that the RB21 is difficult to drive,” he said. “The Racing Bull[s] is easier to handle and very quick over a single qualifying lap. But in race conditions, it lags well behind the Red Bull Racing car.”
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On the day Red Bull Racing officially announced the immediate appointment of Yuki Tsunoda as Max Verstappen’s teammate, there is also a crisis meeting at the Austrian team. The topic of discussion in Milton Keynes is how to improve the RB21 so that it can compete seriously at the front of the grid again. But, a notable absence from the important meeting is advisor Helmut Marko.
