Tsunoda will finish 2025 F1 season at Red Bull – Marko

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has stated that Yuki Tsunoda’s future will be secure until the end of the 2025 Formula 1 season, after the Japanese driver was promoted to the main team at Liam Lawson’s expense.

Red Bull’s decision was made following the Chinese Grand Prix, where Lawson vastly underperformed again in his second outing with the Milton Keynes-based outfit – including placing last in both Shanghai qualifying sessions.

As a symptom of the instability surrounding Red Bull’s second car, the decision could lead to further speculation over the remainder of the season, but Marko made a firm statement in an interview with Motorsport.com’s sister publication Formel1.de.

Asked whether Racing Bulls driver Isack Hadjar, whose Formula 1 debut has been mostly positive so far, would be next in line if Tsunoda failed to live up to expectations, Marko succinctly replied: “Yuki Tsunoda will finish the season.”

The Austrian also expanded on the reasons why Red Bull changed its mind so soon on Tsunoda after denying him that same drive just three months ago. The rationale included a stronger state of mind and convincing performance over the Melbourne and Shanghai rounds, though the latter did not quite translate into results due to strategy mistakes.

“Yuki Tsunoda is a fast driver, we know that, but he’s had his ups and downs”, Marko said. “That’s why we thought Lawson was the better and stronger candidate. But Yuki has undergone a transformation. He changed his management, and in this situation, this was simply the best option.

“Because even in Suzuka, although Lawson knows the track, on the other hand Hadjar didn’t know China either and was immediately on pace, almost as fast as Yuki – at least in qualifying. So it was a downward spiral that we needed to break in order to give Lawson a future in his career.

Liam Lawson, Red Bull Racing, Helmut Marko, Red Bull Racing

Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images

“Yuki has had ups and downs – I remember the two crashes in Mexico, for example. He simply wasn’t as stable as he is now.

“Yuki is in his fifth year. And experience in such difficult conditions is an enormous factor. Yuki has repeatedly emphasised that he’s actually the right man for Red Bull Racing.”

In order to make an informed decision, Red Bull gave Tsunoda “two or three simulator sessions” after the Chinese Grand Prix. That’s when the 24-year-old made the difference.

“We had to act quickly,” Marko commented. “And everything was positive. Also the technical feedback, which he had often been accused of lacking, that he didn’t understand the technical side or couldn’t set up a car – that also turned out to be incorrect.”

One factor which wasn’t critical to the driver swap, however, was Honda’s support for its protege.

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

“The fact that Japan happens to be the next race is just a coincidence,” Marko insisted. “And of course, Honda is happy with the decision – that’s clear. But that wasn’t the decisive factor. Honda’s involvement ends at the end of this year anyway.”

As for Honda’s potential financial contribution to the deal, Marko added: “That wasn’t decisive and wasn’t the motivation behind the decision either.”

Now, has Red Bull given Tsunoda any sort of benchmark in terms of performance as he gets to grips with the wayward RB21? Can he really tackle the remainder of the campaign under no immediate threat?

Marko’s answer was damning for Tsunoda’s predecessor. “No, he doesn’t have to worry. But don’t forget, Liam Lawson qualified 20th twice. And that’s difficult.”