Red Bull’s motorsport adviser, Helmut Marko, has acknowledged that the decision to replace Liam Lawson as Max Verstappen’s team-mate was a “mistake.”
Lawson, who struggled in the opening two races of the Formula 1 season, has been swapped out for Yuki Tsunoda and reassigned to Red Bull’s second team, Racing Bulls.
The 23-year-old New Zealander faced tough starts at both the Australian Grand Prix and Chinese Grand Prix, where he qualified poorly and failed to deliver notable race results.
Marko cited Lawson’s loss of self-confidence as a key factor in the decision, explaining, “His performance was unfortunately not good enough, and that comes from self-confidence.”
Lawson admitted he found the demotion “tough” but expressed gratitude for the opportunity to continue his career at Racing Bulls, stating, “Being a Red Bull Racing driver has been my dream since I was a kid. I’m grateful for everything that has brought me to this point.”
Marko emphasized that the move was not a permanent setback for Lawson, pointing out that previous drivers such as Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon successfully returned to competitive form after similar challenges.
He added, “We believe Liam can recover and start again. Racing Bulls offers him a car capable of top-10 finishes in qualifying and the race.”
As Tsunoda steps into the role, the 24-year-old Japanese driver has the remainder of the season to prove his value at Red Bull. Marko noted Tsunoda’s recent progress, calling him “a much stronger personality” with improved confidence and strategy.
Meanwhile, concerns surrounding Red Bull’s car performance have sparked broader discussions within the team.
With Max Verstappen aiming for his fifth title, Marko highlighted the importance of delivering a competitive vehicle, explaining that even top drivers could contemplate leaving underperformance.
The next race, the Japanese Grand Prix, will be held on April 4-6, offering a fresh chance for Red Bull’s reshaped lineup to deliver results.
