BREAKING: Helmut Marko Admits Red Bull’s Mistake in Driver Lineup Decision… Read more
Helmut Marko Admits Red Bull’s Mistake in Driver Lineup Decision
Red Bull’s motorsport advisor, Helmut Marko, has acknowledged that the team made a crucial miscalculation when selecting their driver lineup for the current Formula 1 season.
The team had opted to replace Sergio Perez with Liam Lawson following a disappointing 2024 campaign for the Mexican driver. However, things have not gone as planned. After failing to score points in his first two races with Red Bull, Lawson has been reassigned to the Racing Bulls team, while Yuki Tsunoda has been promoted to take his place.
Tsunoda was previously considered a strong candidate for the second Red Bull seat, but the team ultimately chose Lawson due to concerns over the Japanese driver’s inconsistency. Marko explained their reasoning, saying, “Yuki was too inconsistent, and that is why we unanimously chose Lawson.” However, the decision has backfired, with Lawson struggling under pressure from the very start.
Marko compared Lawson’s struggles to that of a boxer trapped in a downward spiral, explaining how difficult it is to recover once things start going wrong. He admitted, “It was a mistake.”
One of the early setbacks Lawson faced was a turbo issue during the third free practice session in Australia, which cost him valuable track time. According to Marko, this lost mileage contributed to his lackluster performances in the opening rounds of the season.
Red Bull had hoped that bringing in Lawson would rejuvenate the team as they aimed to reclaim the constructors’ title after finishing third in 2024. However, just two races into the season, their prospects already appear bleak. Defending champions McLaren have surged ahead, amassing a 42-point lead over Red Bull.
With Tsunoda now stepping into the second Red Bull seat, the team is hoping he can help close the gap in the standings, beginning with his home race in Japan next weekend. The pressure will be immense, but the team needs a strong second driver to support their championship ambitions.
Meanwhile, Lawson faces an entirely different challenge as he returns to Racing Bulls, partnering with rookie Isack Hadjar. This shift marks a setback in Lawson’s F1 career, but it also presents an opportunity for him to rebuild his confidence and prove himself once again.
Red Bull’s decision to swap drivers so early in the season highlights the high-stakes environment of Formula 1, where teams must constantly adapt to maximize their chances of success. Whether Tsunoda can deliver the consistency that Red Bull seeks remains to be seen, but for now, the team is focused on damage control after what Marko concedes was a costly mistake.
