Marko does not dismiss the possibility of another shakeup among Red Bull drivers.

      "I believe he has the potential to win a grand prix."

      Dr. Helmut Marko is not dismissing the possibility of another driver reshuffle at Red Bull Racing, potentially occurring before the end of the 2025 season. Initially, the plan was to have Liam Lawson paired with Max Verstappen for the entire season, but the rookie from New Zealand was relegated to Racing Bulls after just two races. Advisor Marko defends this choice.

      "No, because Lawson was caught in a negative spiral," he stated to Viaplay in Monaco. "He is now in the top ten, which indicates that he is bouncing back. He would not have thrived next to Max Verstappen."

      However, Lawson's substitute was Yuki Tsunoda, whose sponsor Honda will move to Aston Martin next year. Recently, Marko has started to question the Japanese driver's ability to handle pressure. Meanwhile, the 82-year-old is optimistic about Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar.

      "When I compare Hadjar to Kimi Antonelli, I've heard that Kimi tested around 10,000 kilometers in older cars," Marko mentioned. "Hadjar has tested at most 500 to 800 kilometers. This illustrates the potential this young man possesses. I believe he is a potential grand prix winner."

      Some speculate that Tsunoda could be dropped from the Red Bull program entirely, which would allow Hadjar to advance to the senior team and Arvid Lindblad to move up from F2. Lawson’s standing in the Red Bull program may also be uncertain.

      "We typically discuss the future of the drivers only after the summer break," Marko emphasized. "It's much too early to say anything about this right now."

      What is evident is that Marko is keeping the possibility open for further changes within Red Bull's four F1 seats. "Performance is always the top priority at Red Bull," he confirmed.

      Adding to the complexity is the fact that Verstappen’s exit clauses are approaching during the pivotal summer break. "We will examine that only after the summer break," Marko insists. "It's far too early for that. He has a contract until 2028.

      "All contracts come with clauses," Marko added. "These primarily pertain to performance. At this moment, that is not a concern. We just need to ensure that we produce a sufficiently competitive car. If we do, this entire discussion will become irrelevant. Right now, it's clear—he states that he wants to fulfill his contract, but we need to provide him with a winning car or at least one capable of competing for the world title."