Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko defends dropping Liam Lawson, claiming the young driver cracked under pressure during his brief 2025 F1 stint.
Dr. Helmut Marko says Red Bull stands by its decision to drop Liam Lawson after just two races in the 2025 season.
Lawson was replaced by the more experienced Yuki Tsunoda, who has since driven four races alongside Max Verstappen in the main Red Bull team. According to Marko, Tsunoda has earned his spot.
“Yes,” the 82-year-old confirmed when asked if the team made the right call.
Tsunoda may have only scored a handful of points so far, but Marko believes his pace relative to Verstappen justifies the decision.
“He’s much closer to Max than Liam ever was,” Marko said. “In just his second race with us, Yuki scored points. That was an outstanding performance and clear proof we made the right move. Honestly, when was the last time both Red Bulls finished in the points? I can’t even remember.”
Lawson, now back with Red Bull’s junior team Racing Bulls, has yet to score a single point in either car this year.
Still, some critics see Red Bull’s decision to drop him after just two races as harsh.
“Liam just couldn’t cope with the pressure at Red Bull,” Marko stated. “That’s why it made sense to give someone else the seat.”
He added that the team still supports the young New Zealander.
“We haven’t given up on Liam. He’s still racing in Formula 1, and that means he holds one of just 20 seats in the world.”
“He’s been welcomed back by Racing Bulls, and his performance is improving again.”
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