F1 NEWS: Helmut Marko Admits Red Bull’s ERROR Following L…read more
F1 NEWS: Helmut Marko Admits Red Bull’s ERROR Following L…read mor
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has conceded that promoting Liam Lawson may have been a misstep, after the team decided to swap him with Yuki Tsunoda just two races into the 2025 Formula 1 season.
Lawson, who was chosen to replace Sergio Perez for the season, struggled to handle the intensity of racing alongside Max Verstappen. His poor performances including failing to progress past Q1 in both races and starting last in the China Sprint and Grand Prix—led Red Bull to send him back to Racing Bulls, with Tsunoda stepping up to take his place.
Marko: Lawson Struggled Under Pressure
In an interview with OE24, Marko admitted that Red Bull initially believed Lawson was better prepared mentally than Tsunoda to handle the demands of a Red Bull seat. However, the New Zealander quickly found himself overwhelmed.
“Yuki was too inconsistent,” Marko explained. “That’s why we unanimously went with Lawson. But from day one in Australia, he struggled to perform under the added pressure.”
Marko went on to describe how Lawson’s struggles snowballed into a crisis of confidence.
“Then he fell into a downward spiral,” he added. “It’s like a battered boxer it’s very hard to recover from that.”
Tsunoda Finally Gets His Red Bull Chance
Tsunoda’s long-awaited promotion to Red Bull is a significant moment in his career. Despite a solid 2024 season with Racing Bulls, he was overlooked in favor of Lawson at the start of 2025. However, his consistency and growth have now earned him a seat alongside Verstappen.
With Red Bull already trailing McLaren in the constructors’ standings, Tsunoda faces a crucial test as he steps into one of F1’s most high-pressure environments. Meanwhile, Lawson must now focus on rebuilding his confidence at Racing Bulls, hoping for another shot at Red Bull in the future.
As the season unfolds, the spotlight will be on Tsunoda to see if he can capitalize on this opportunity and whether Red Bull’s latest driver switch proves to be the right call.
