Last Updated on December 26 2024, 12:01 am
Marko explains: Why Yuki Tsunoda missed out on the coveted Red Bull seat – In a recent announcement that sent shockwaves through the Formula One world, Red Bull Racing revealed its driver line-up for the 2025 season. The team confirmed that four-time world champion Max Verstappen will continue as their lead driver, alongside the long-awaited addition of Liam Lawson.
Meanwhile, Yuki Tsunoda, who has shown considerable growth and ambition during his time with sister team Racing Bulls, has been overlooked for the Red Bull Racing seat, a decision that has sparked considerable debate. In an exclusive interview with Germanys RTL/ntv and sport.de, Red Bull Motorsport Advisor Helmut Marko sheds light on the reasons behind this pivotal decision.
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The confirmation of Red Bull Racing’s driver line-up came after weeks of speculation and marked the culmination of a series of reshuffles within the Red Bull ecosystem.
The departure of Sergio Pérez created a much sought-after vacancy at the top of the grid, with Yuki Tsunoda and up-and-coming talent Liam Lawson among the contenders. Ultimately, it was Lawson who secured the coveted promotion, while Tsunoda remained with the Racing Bulls for a fifth consecutive season.
Isack Hadjar, another promising youngster from the Red Bull development programme, will join the Racing Bulls squad to fill the void left by Lawson’s departure.
While the de cision was expected, it raised questions about the criteria used to select Lawson over the more experienced Tsunoda.
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Marko’s assessment: Why Tsunoda fell short
In his exclusive interview, Helmut Marko did not shy away from discussing the factors that influenced Red Bull’s decision. Marko acknowledged that Yuki Tsunoda, currently racing for Racing Bulls, has shown impressive speed on track and has often outpaced Liam Lawson in head-to-head competition. However, Marko highlighted a critical lack in Tsunoda’s performance: consistency.
“In terms of speed, Tsunoda is definitely the faster of the two at the moment,” admitted Marko.
“But he doesn’t have the necessary consistency and keeps making mistakes.”
Marko pointed to specific incidents, including Tsunoda’s qualifying crash at the Mexican Grand Prix, as evidence of the Japanese rider’s erratic tendencies. Despite notable improvements in his emotional control, Tsunoda’s occasional outbursts and subsequent loss of composure remain a concern for Red Bull management.
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Emotional challenges and the Verstappen factor
Beyond his on-track performances, Marko suggested that Tsunoda’s emotional resilience may not be enough to cope with the pressure of racing alongside Max Verstappen. Widely regarded as one of the most dominant drivers in F1 history, the Dutchman sets a high standard that few can match.
“We believe it would cause great emotional difficulties for Tsunoda to realise alongside Max that he cannot beat him, possibly not even come close, and that things are not going as he had imagined,” explained Marko.
The high-pressure environment of Red Bull Racing demands not only exceptional talent, but also the mental strength to accept a secondary role when necessary – qualities the team felt Tsunoda had yet to fully develop.
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Lawson’s strengths: why he got the nod
In contrast, Liam Lawson was praised by Marko for his mental toughness and adaptability. Despite his relatively limited F1 experience, with just eleven Grand Prix starts to his name, Lawson has consistently shown a level-headed approach under pressure.
“Lawson is the mentally strongest of our juniors,” emphasised Marko.
“He may have relatively little Grand Prix experience, but he has the mental strength to drive alongside Verstappen and accept that he has no chance against the Dutchman.”
Marko also highlighted Lawson’s potential for growth, describing him as “down to earth” and with a mindset that fits with Red Bull Racing’s long-term vision. The 21-year-old New Zealander is expected to be within three-tenths of a second of Verstappen in qualifying, a target that reflects both high expectations and confidence in his abilities.
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Tsunoda’s reaction: Disappointed but not surprised
According to Marko, Yuki Tsunoda was not entirely surprised by the decision to keep him at Racing Bulls. The Japanese rider had reportedly tempered his expectations and understood the challenges of fighting for a seat in the senior team.
“He kind of expected it,” Marko noted, suggesting that Tsunoda will now focus on refining his skills and proving his consistency over the coming season, probably seeing his future elsewhere away from the Red Bull family.
The decision could serve as both a motivator and a reality check for the 24-year-old, who appears to remain a part of Red Bull’s wider F1 strategy, for now.
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Looking Ahead: High stakes for 2025
The 2025 season promises to be a defining chapter for Red Bull Racing and its driver development programme. Max Verstappen continues to anchor the team, while Liam Lawson steps into the spotlight with the opportunity to cement his place among F1’s elite.
For Yuki Tsunoda, the coming season with Racing Bulls will be crucial in demonstrating that he can overcome the weaknesses identified by Red Bull management and emerge as a more complete driver.
The decision to promote Lawson over Tsunoda underlines Red Bull’s commitment to balancing talent with mental toughness and consistency. While Tsunoda remains an integral part of the Red Bull ecosystem, the onus is now on him to rise to the challenge and prove he can meet the exacting standards required for a seat at the top table.
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Tsunoda had other teams interested in 2024 – Yuki Tsunoda may feel he has been double dealt by his Red Bull Racing family who offered him a contract extension for 2025 early this season, effectively ditching the driver for Lawson. The expectations were that either he or Daniel Ricciardo would replace the struggling Sergio Perez, but when the loveable Aussie was released after the summer break, the Japanese driver was sure to be in the box seat to replace the Mexican driver.
At the start of 2024, Ricciardo was expected to lead the V-CARB team yet over their eighteen race weekends together was Tsunoda who won the qualifying battle by a resounding 12-6. The Japanese driver famed for his red mist radio messages also appeared to have benefitted from his experience alongside Ricciardo, whom he credited with for his less emotional responses in the car when things didn’t go to plan.
With Ricciardo leaving the team and only Tsunoda with more than a handful of Grand Prix weekends under his belt, the consensus in the paddock was that Yuki with his four years experience in F1 would trump the newbie Liam Lawson who had been out qualified by his Japanese team mate 6-0 across their races together this season…READ MORE ON THIS STORY
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Personaly I think the whole F1 saga is turning people off .The red bull camp are actually milking the media .great fot them however if you reverse the physcoligy it’s all about the way they dispose of or destroy up and comming drivers Outlook. I personaly think that some of our new young guns are not getting the right deals because the managers are focused on themselves more than strategic placement. Marko in my opinion has made some blistering statements that are not people friendly. I personaly think that Lewis and Piatry will be the big movers and as for our young Japanese driver that most are righting off be warned he is not done. He is about to shine in my opinion .in closing the new media attitude and the saturation over Recardo was sickening .