Marko's account of Tsunoda's selection history is incorrect.
Dr. Helmut Marko’s narrative regarding recent driver choices at Red Bull has been challenged. Yuki Tsunoda is currently in the driver's seat, but only after Sergio Perez's contract was extended last year and subsequently terminated for a significant sum. Liam Lawson took over for Perez, but his performance was so disappointing that he only participated in the first two races of 2025. Marko recently stated that Red Bull was inclined to choose Tsunoda from the outset, but the decision was blocked by Adrian Newey during the critical period around the 2024 Mexican GP.
"Tsunoda collided with Pierre Gasly's car, and debris from the incident damaged Verstappen's car's underbody, costing him the race," Marko mentioned. "Newey was extremely angry at that moment. From then on, Yuki became a sore point for him."
Amanda Newey, Adrian’s wife, has expressed skepticism about this narrative. "How could he (Newey) have had any say in the lineup?" she questioned. "He was no longer with Red Bull at that time." Team principal Christian Horner also refuted Marko's account. "Adrian was definitely not involved in the driver lineup this year," he stated at Suzuka. "He had no sway over our decision."
Regardless of the truth, Marko is currently pleased with Tsunoda. "FP1 already validated that the driver change was the correct decision," the 81-year-old Austrian remarked at Suzuka. Former Racing Bulls team principal Franz Tost wholeheartedly agrees. "I would have selected Tsunoda from the beginning," Tost told ORF. "I've always maintained that. I made my position clear last autumn. Why? Because Yuki is significantly faster than Lawson. You could give Lawson 100 years, and he would still be slower than Yuki. For me, it would have been a straightforward decision. If he can manage his emotions, this season will be very successful for both Red Bull and Tsunoda."
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