Red Bull in crisis? Helmut Marko calls emergency meeting after Chinese GP. Helmut Marko has confirmed an imminent emergency meeting at Red Bull.

Helmut Marko has confirmed an imminent emergency meeting at Red Bull to address the disappointing start to the 2025 Formula 1 season. The team, usually at the top of the category, is now struggling with performances well below expectations, mainly due to Liam Lawson’s issues.

Red Bull: Only a Fourth Place in China with Max Verstappen
The Chinese Grand Prix ended with Max Verstappen in fourth place, while his teammate Liam Lawson finished 15th, highlighting serious difficulties adapting to the RB21.

Lawson, already struggling in Australia—where he went off track in adverse weather conditions and qualified last in both the Sprint and the race—has yet to score any championship points. In contrast, Verstappen has collected 36 points so far, but Red Bull is far from the dominant form that was expected.

Marko: “We Need an Immediate Turnaround, We’re Concerned but Not Giving Up”
After the race in Shanghai, Helmut Marko announced that a meeting would take place this week at the Milton Keynes headquarters to analyze the issues and close the gap with rival teams.

“There is a meeting in Milton Keynes to discuss when and how we can bridge the gap,” Helmut Marko told Sky Deutschland.
“We are concerned, but we’re not throwing in the towel. Until then, we need to collect as many points as possible.”

Tsunoda Ready to Replace Lawson?
To make matters worse, Yuki Tsunoda has stated he is ready to take Lawson’s seat as early as the Japanese GP if needed:

“I will be 100% ready,” said the Japanese driver after qualifying.

The Cause of the Performance Drop? The Medium Tires
Helmut Marko also analyzed Max Verstappen’s race, emphasizing how the choice of medium tires negatively affected the RB21’s race pace.

“With the hard tires, we were as fast as the leaders, but we lost the race in the first stint on the mediums,” Helmut Marko explained.
“The start wasn’t great, Max lost positions and was perhaps too cautious, fearing the fragility of the mediums. In the end, we caught up to Charles Leclerc, but it was too late for the podium.”

Red Bull: Temporary Slump or the Beginning of the End?
Next week’s meeting will be crucial for Red Bull’s future in the 2025 Formula 1 championship. After years of dominance, the team now finds itself in an unexpected position, needing urgent action to avoid losing ground to its rivals.