Helmut Marko concedes that Max Verstappen is ‘not happy’ with Red Bull’s decision to demote Liam Lawson to junior team Racing Bulls in favour of promoting Yuki Tsunoda.
The team from Milton Keynes initially rejected Tsunoda when Red Bull replaced Sergio Perez in December with Lawson instead called up from their junior team. Yet just two rounds later, Red Bull have performed a U-turn with the Japanese gem and New Zealander trading seats.
Tsunoda will now debut for Red Bull on home soil at next weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka. The 24-year-old will also make an early appearance in his new colours with Tsunoda to take part in Red Bull’s Tokyo show run long arranged for the Wednesday before the event.
Yuki Tsunoda can help Max Verstappen win his fifth F1 title after replacing Liam Lawson at Red Bull
The decision to now promote Tsunoda from Racing Bulls to partner Verstappen came as Red Bull grew frustrated with Lawson’s lack of progress adapting to the RB21. He failed to adjust to the car’s sharp front end and loose rear and questions arose on if Lawson would find a fix.
But Verstappen is not happy with Red Bull demoting Lawson after just two races for them. It is the Dutchman’s belief that his Milton Keynes crew should have focused on seeing the Kiwi succeed. Yet Red Bull ignored Verstappen’s views and have given Lawson’s seat to Tsunoda.
READ MORE: Who is Racing Bulls F1 driver Liam Lawson? Everything you need to know
Marko has now admitted that Verstappen indeed is ‘not happy’ about Lawson’s demotion to Racing Bulls, too. But the Red Bull motorsport advisor believes Tsunoda’s promotion will gift the 27-year-old an advantage as he can help Verstappen retain his F1 drivers’ championship.
“We know Max is not happy,” Marko told De Telegraaf. “But we need two cars at the front. Not only for the constructors’ championship but also to help Max to his fifth world title. Then you can achieve more strategically in races.
“We can use Yuki’s experience and form now. That counts. At the end of the day, that is to the advantage of the team and that also means to the advantage of Max.”
Liam Lawson risked costing Red Bull the constructors’ championship like Sergio Perez
Red Bull fought constructors’ champions McLaren plus Ferrari and Mercedes single-handily with Verstappen over the Australian Grand Prix and the Chinese Grand Prix due to Lawson’s plight. Being a one-car team last year due to Perez’s woes is what cost Red Bull the title, too.
While Verstappen was able to win his fourth drivers’ title in succession, Perez failed to finish a Grand Prix higher than sixth place beyond round six of last season’s 24. It meant he ended the term just eighth in the drivers’ standings with 152 points compared to Verstappen’s 437.
READ MORE: Red Bull driver Yuki Tsunoda’s life outside F1 from height to parents
| Position | Constructors’ Standings | Points |
| 1 |
McLaren Racing |
78 |
| 2 |
Mercedes-AMG Petronas |
57 |
| 3 |
Red Bull Racing |
36 |
| 4 |
Williams F1 Team |
17 |
| 5 |
Scuderia Ferrari |
17 |
| 6 |
Haas F1 Team |
14 |
| 7 |
Aston Martin F1 Team |
10 |
| 8 |
Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber |
6 |
| 9 |
Racing Bulls |
3 |
| 10 |
Alpine F1 Team |
0 |
In fear of a repeat this term if Lawson did not adapt to the RB21 built largely for Verstappen, Red Bull have now taken the decisive action to demote the Kiwi. Lawson is one of six drivers still yet to get a point after crashing in Australia before enduring yet further misery in China.
The Hastings native crashed out of the Australian GP on slick tyres in wet conditions and had also qualified in P18 (just Haas’ Esteban Ocon set a slower time). Lawson was also slowest in both qualifying sessions at the Chinese GP, even as Verstappen scored P2 on the Sprint grid.
After the Kiwi finished the Shanghai Sprint in P14, and 44.904 seconds behind winner Lewis Hamilton, Red Bull changed Lawson’s set-up for the Chinese GP. Yet it did not help his cause with the pit lane start leading to a P12 finish 81.147s behind winner, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.
