Red Bull decided to demote Liam Lawson just two races into the season. Taking his place will be Yuki Tsunoda, who must show he can keep up with his new teammate, Max Verstappen, and prove he is not just another passing driver in the Milton Keynes team. In an interview, Helmut Marko clarified how long the Japanese driver will be given to prove himself.
“Yuki Tsunoda will stay until the end of the season,” said the 81-year-old. “We know Yuki Tsunoda is a fast driver, but he has had ups and downs—I remember, for example, his two crashes in Mexico. That’s why we initially thought Liam Lawson was the better and stronger candidate. But Yuki has undergone a transformation. He changed management, and in this situation, this was simply the best option. Yuki is in his fifth year, and experience in such difficult conditions is a huge factor.”
Speaking about Liam Lawson’s demotion, he added: “He had entered a negative spiral that we needed to break to secure his future and give him a career opportunity.”
A Boost from the Simulator
Regarding Yuki Tsunoda, Helmut Marko revealed that Red Bull solidified its decision after the Japanese driver impressed the team in “two or three simulator sessions” earlier this week.
“We had to act quickly,” the Austrian explained. “And everything was positive. Moreover, the technical feedback—an aspect for which Yuki Tsunoda was often criticized, particularly his supposed inability to understand the technical side or set up the car—turned out to be unfounded.”
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