Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko defends Red Bull’s decision to swap Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda. The New Zealander was informed this week that his Red Bull journey is, for now, over, while the Japanese driver finally gets promoted to the top team. According to Marko, the driver swap also benefits Max Verstappen.
Red Bull’s decision to demote Liam Lawson back to Racing Bulls after just two races received a lot of criticism from various quarters. For instance, former F1 driver Giedo van der Garde accused Red Bull of bullying Lawson, and Jos Verstappen also hinted at his disagreement with the decision. Advisor Helmut Marko explains why the racing team is persisting and now fully backing Yuki Tsunoda.
“This year we’re seeing a completely different Yuki,” the Austrian tells De Telegraaf. “He hasn’t made any mistakes in the first few weeks, he’s fast, has a new management team, and is full of confidence. We believe that with his experience, he can contribute to improving the car. Yuki has had his ups and downs, but he’s matured.”
Advantage for Max
Max Verstappen previously expressed his disagreement with Red Bull’s management style through a like on Instagram. Marko confirms that the four-time world champion is indeed unhappy with the measure. “But we need two cars at the front,” Marko explains. “Not just for the constructors’ championship, but also to help Max secure his fifth world title. We can now make good use of Yuki’s experience and form. That counts. At the end of the day, it benefits the team. And that means it also benefits Max.”
