Demotion to 'preserve' Lawson's F1 career - Marko

      "He has the opportunity to rehabilitate himself with Racing Bulls."

      Demoting Liam Lawson from Red Bull is expected to "save his career," as stated by team advisor Dr. Helmut Marko. The 23-year-old rookie from New Zealand is receiving considerable sympathy from the Formula 1 community after his poor performances in Australia and China led to his seat being exchanged with Racing Bulls driver Yuki Tsunoda. "To protect his career, we decided to send him back to Racing Bulls," Marko told Servus TV. However, many are having difficulty finding a positive aspect for Lawson, with former F1 driver Giedo van der Garde labeling it a "bullying move." On an Instagram post, fellow Dutchman Max Verstappen 'liked' the comment.

      Red Bull has acknowledged that its car for 2025 is particularly challenging for any driver other than Verstappen. "Over the years," Marko admitted, "Max is the only one who can optimally handle the car. For a young driver, it is becoming increasingly difficult. If we had kept Liam in the car, we believe his performance under pressure would have deteriorated even further. With a second team, he has the chance to rehabilitate in a more relaxed environment. Racing Bulls provides him the opportunity to rebuild."

      Marko explained that he initially overlooked Tsunoda for the 2025 seat because he was too "inconsistent" last year and considered Lawson to have a stronger character. So why is Tsunoda now considered suitable for the top seat? "We have observed that Tsunoda has made significant progress over the winter. As an individual, he has also grown stronger. Additionally, as a Japanese driver, Yuki certainly knows the Suzuka circuit well. Marko asserts, "Yuki was too inconsistent, which is why we unanimously chose Lawson. However, under the heightened pressure, he was unable to deliver right from the first day in Australia, leading to a downward spiral. It’s akin to a battered boxer - it's extremely challenging to recover from that. In that regard, yes, it was a mistake."

      Indeed, Lawson's current performance has ensured that Red Bull will not compete for the constructors’ championship. "What he has done so far is clearly insufficient," Marko told Osterreich newspaper. "We need a strong second driver, even if just for the team’s strategy." However, Marko disputed the notion that the Racing Bulls car is presently superior to the 2025 Red Bull. "It’s true that the RB21 is challenging to drive," he said. "The Racing Bull is easier to manage and quite fast in qualifying. But during the race, it significantly lags behind the Red Bull Racing car. This isn't the end for Lawson; he still has ample opportunity to forge a successful Formula 1 career with the Racing Bulls."