Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko addressed the Lawson situation, “admitting” Max Verstappen’s dissatisfaction.
Red Bull’s decision to replace Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda after just two races into the 2025 season has sparked heated debate. And it’s not just journalists and fans fueling the controversy—Max Verstappen himself has added to the tension.
One of the clearest signs of discontent came from the Dutch driver, who liked an Instagram post by former F1 driver Giedo Van der Garde, in which he described Red Bull’s move as an “act of bullying” against Lawson. A gesture that leaves little room for interpretation and clearly signals the reigning world champion’s disagreement.
Helmut Marko’s Words
Helmut Marko also addressed the matter in an interview with De Telegraaf, explaining Red Bull’s reasoning: “We know Max is not happy, but we need two competitive cars fighting at the front. This isn’t just for the Constructors’ Championship but also to support Max in his bid for a fifth world title. Yuki has both the experience and current form to help the team, which ultimately benefits Max as well.”
Beyond the Lawson controversy, Red Bull is also struggling with the performance of the RB21. Marko admitted the difficulties in making the car more competitive in the short term: “It’s not easy to radically transform a difficult car like the RB21. However, Max had a very productive meeting with the engineers, and we remain optimistic. The next three races will be tough, but we are working hard to return to the top as soon as possible.”
Unless Red Bull delivers a strong result in Suzuka, tensions within the team are unlikely to settle anytime soon. The current situation bears some resemblance to Honda’s MotoGP struggles, where Marc Márquez was the only rider keeping them afloat.
Can Red Bull turn things around and restore harmony within the team? That answer may not come anytime soon…
Photo: Oracle Red Bull Racing
