01/07/2025 13:35
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has confirmed that a second driver
change is not set to take place, despite Yuki Tsunoda's ongoing
struggles alongside Max Verstappen since replacing a "completely
exhausted" Liam Lawson. Tsunoda swapped seats with Lawson after the
Chinese Grand Prix earlier this year, but has failed to deliver
strong performances for the Milton Keynes-based outfit. In nine
grands prix for Red Bull, Tsunoda has scored just seven points,
whilst he has also been eliminated in Q1 in three of the last five
races. As a result, the Japanese driver has found himself
increasingly under the media spotlight, especially with Isack
Hadjar having proven to be a star for Racing Bulls. Lawson also
delivered his best-ever F1 result in the Austrian Grand Prix –
sixth place – whereas Tsunoda finished in 16th. Despite Tsunoda's
issues though, Marko has ruled out a driver change and a promotion
back to Red Bull for Lawson. "A driver change doesn't make sense,"
Marko told Sky DE , before insisting dropping Lawson was correct,
"Absolutely, because Lawson was also completely exhausted. "He
needed a few races to recover, now he has defended a sixth place
brilliantly against Fernando Alonso with a one-stopper. I think he
would not have stayed on his feet next to Max either." By ruling
out a second driver change, it is a sign of belief in Tsunoda by
Red Bull's senior figures. Marko pinpoints Tsunoda's struggles down
to a lack of confidence, particularly when the pressure increases.
"Yuki lacks self-confidence," said Marko. "We have to think about
how we can stabilise him so that he performs throughout the
weekend, which he partly shows in free practice. "He had that
dangerous crash in Imola. It is now a sum of negative events, but
the speed is there. We see that in the practice sessions, but when
the pressure is on, that changes."