Marko stated that Newey opposed Red Bull's decision to sign Tsunoda.

      "From that moment on, Yuki became a source of frustration for him."

      Yuki Tsunoda could have potentially been a driver for Red Bull Racing if it weren't for Adrian Newey. With Liam Lawson's short stint alongside Max Verstappen ending after a poor start to the 2025 season, the team is approaching the Japanese GP with homegrown talent Tsunoda in the driver's seat.

      It's well-known that four-time world champion Verstappen was not in agreement with the decision to replace Lawson. "He disagreed because he kept mentioning how difficult the car was to drive," team advisor Dr. Helmut Marko stated to Kleine Zeitung. "That's his view, and it's valid. However, you can't achieve the title as a solo competitor."

      Marko has acknowledged that promoting Lawson over Tsunoda was a misstep, tracing the decision back to an incident in Mexico last year, which he described as a "decisive moment" in determining who would take over for Sergio Perez. "Tsunoda collided with Pierre Gasly's car, and the debris damaged Verstappen's car, which cost him the race," he explained. "Adrian Newey was extremely upset at that time. From then on, Yuki became a point of contention for him. But now that Newey is no longer with us, Yuki has been putting in the effort to improve himself. He has changed his management and matured. I heard him express expectations for a podium finish in Japan, but I would be pleased if Max were to secure one. But let’s wait and see," Marko concluded.

      Ultimately, Marko stated that Red Bull needs a more competitive second driver and that the 2025 car must be faster overall. "We need to quickly implement effective updates," he remarked. "These updates come in batches, and if something is inefficient, we have to resolve it. To clinch the fifth world championship, these enhancements must occur within the next five races. Otherwise, it will be too late."