According to Helmut Marko, Max Verstappen is “not happy” with Red Bull’s decision to replace Liam Lawson after just two race weekends. Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko has revealed that four-time champion Max Verstappen is “not happy” after the team decided to drop Liam Lawson ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix. After just two race weekends of his rookie Formula 1 season, Red Bull announced that Lawson is moving back to its sister team Racing Bulls, and Yuki Tsunoda will be taking the spot alongside Verstappen from the Japanese Grand Prix onwards. The Milton Keynes squad assessed both Lawson and Tsunoda in the latter stages of the 2024 season to decide who would replace Sergio Perez in the team for 2025. Despite the Japanese driver’s four-year experience in Racing Bulls, they opted to sign Lawson, citing his ability to consistently perform under pressure. However, after just three races, including the sprint race in China, the team has made a U-turn on this choice. After the announcement was made yesterday, Marko has revealed to De Telegraaf that Verstappen is not happy with the decision. He explained: “We know Max is not happy. But we need two cars at the front. Not only for the constructors’ championship but also to help Max […]
Liam Lawson has sensationally been axed after just two races, with Yuki Tsunoda promoted to the main team ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix. Lawson will see out the season at Racing Bulls, returning to the team at which he started 11 grands prix prior to his promotion this season. The move was heavily rumoured during the Chinese Grand Prix, where Lawson qualified last for both the sprint and the feature race. He finished well outside the points for both and far behind teammate Max Verstappen, who pinched a podium in the short Saturday race. It compounded his difficult maiden in Australia, where he crashed out of the race after starting from pit lane. The Kiwi had been inducted to Red Bull Racing to replace Sergio Pérez, who struggled badly last year, scoring just 13 points in the final nine rounds. Lawson has now fallen on his sword just 13 days after first suiting up for the team for first practice in Melbourne. “It has been difficult to see Liam struggle with the RB21 at the first two races, and as a result we have collectively taken the decision to make an early switch,” Red Bull Racing principal Christian Horner […]
The Australian Grand Prix didn’t go to plan for Liam Lawson but Helmut Marko won’t pass judgement on the Red Bull rookie until he’s completed “three to five” races with the senior team. Promoted to Red Bull for the F1 2025 championship after 11 Grands Prix with the junior team over two seasons, Marko made it clear before the campaign that Lawson’s job was to “help” Max Verstappen win the titles for Red Bull. Alas, Race One didn’t go to plan. Lawson was knocked out in Q1 at the Albert Park circuit after aborting his final flying lap in Q1 when a wayward moment through Turn 10 was compounded by a slide at the penultimate corner. Down in 18th place on the grid and with rain forecast for the Grand Prix, Red Bull bolted a different specification rear wing and rear beam wing onto the New Zealander’s car but it came to nought. Lawson added his name to the list of non-finishers when he crashed late in the race, the Red Bull driver one of four rookies who didn’t see the chequered flag along Isack Hadjar, Jack Doohan and Gabriel Bortoleto. Spinning off on his slick tyres as others pitted […]