Red Bull’s long-time motorsport advisor, Helmut Marko, has once again sparked debate with his latest comments—this time about the uncertain future of Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda, and his critical view of how Lewis Hamilton and Andrea Kimi Antonelli might affect the competitiveness of Ferrari and Mercedes in the near future.
Red Bull’s future starts to take shape
Over the past 18 months, Red Bull Racing has been at the center of numerous internal and external discussions regarding its leadership and direction. However, after a turbulent start to the 2025 season marked by internal tensions and rumors, a sense of calm seems to be returning. Much of this is due to two major developments in recent weeks: Christian Horner’s departure from the team and Max Verstappen’s decision to remain with Red Bull rather than join Mercedes.
The beginning of Laurent Mekies’ tenure as team principal also coincided with Max Verstappen’s dominant performance in the Sprint Race at the Belgian Grand Prix, where the Dutch driver debuted a package of technical updates that appear to have revitalized the RB21.
Taken together, these changes have allowed Red Bull to lay the groundwork for the crucial 2026 Formula 1 season, which many feared would be a disruptive “year zero.” Verstappen’s choice not to sign with Mercedes now gives fresh energy and stability to Red Bull’s long-term project.
But what about the second driver?
While Max Verstappen‘s future is secured, the identity of Red Bull’s second driver for the 2026 season remains uncertain. Yuki Tsunoda, who has scored only 7 points in 11 Grands Prix this season under the Red Bull Racing banner, has not met the team’s expectations. For some time now, there have been persistent rumors that young Red Bull junior driver Isack Hadjar is closing in on Tsunoda’s seat.
In an interview with Austrian outlet Krone, Helmut Marko did not mince words:
“Finishing second in the Constructors’ Championship isn’t realistic because Yuki scores points too rarely. Right now, we’re fighting Mercedes for third place. The second driver is a handicap—not just for us, but also for Ferrari with Lewis Hamilton and for Mercedes with Andrea Kimi Antonelli.”
Marko’s statement casts doubt not only on Tsunoda’s future but also on how competitive the rival teams will be in 2026, particularly due to their own driver pairings. His comments regarding Hamilton and Antonelli suggest he views both as liabilities for their respective teams, either due to declining form or lack of experience.
As for Tsunoda, Marko implied that the final decision will involve discussions with Honda, the Japanese power unit supplier and a long-time supporter of the Japanese driver:
“We usually don’t make driver decisions before the summer break. Yuki has always been a Honda protégé, and next week we’ll talk to them and see what direction we want to take.”
Red Bull’s expectations for the rest of the season
Looking ahead to the final part of the 2025 season, Helmut Marko set a clear timeline and performance goal for the team. He revealed that the Italian Grand Prix at Monza will be the final round for introducing technical updates to the current RB21 car. Marko also explained that achieving third place in both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships by the end of the season would be considered a “satisfactory” result.
Next up is the Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring, a circuit that has not traditionally suited Red Bull:
“Historically, Budapest hasn’t been our strongest track. But we’re bringing a few small updates, and our last upgrade expanded the car’s operating window. If we can be the second-fastest team behind McLaren, that would be satisfactory—but I fear Ferrari might be ahead of us.”
Positive words for Laurent Mekies
Helmut Marko also had praise for Laurent Mekies, who stepped into the team principal role following Christian Horner’s departure. The experienced French engineer has quickly gained the trust of both drivers and technical staff.
“He’s settled in well with the team,” Marko said. “As a seasoned engineer, he’s had some very productive conversations with our drivers. Max knows we’re working hard, and there’s no frustration from his side.”
In conclusion, Red Bull’s senior advisor made it clear that while the team’s foundations for the future are stabilizing—especially with Max Verstappen’s commitment—questions around the second seat and rival team driver line-ups will remain a focal point heading into the 2026 season.
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