Red Bull’s motorsport adviser, Helmut Marko, has conceded that the team made an error in demoting Liam Lawson from his role as Max Verstappen’s teammate. Lawson was replaced by Yuki Tsunoda after underwhelming performances in the first two races of the season.
Marko attributed Lawson’s struggles to a lack of self-confidence, stating that the New Zealander “lost confidence and he couldn’t show his real potential.” Despite this, Marko emphasized that Lawson’s demotion was not a permanent exit from F1, citing the examples of Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon, who both recovered from similar setbacks to become competitive drivers.
The decision to demote Lawson has raised questions about Red Bull’s driver selection process, particularly in light of their decision to pass on Carlos Sainz in favor of re-signing Sergio Perez. Marko defended this choice, arguing that Perez’s early-season performances had been strong before his form dipped.
With Verstappen’s contract containing performance clauses, Marko acknowledged that the team must deliver a competitive car to prevent their star driver from considering a departure. Despite current challenges, Marko expressed optimism that Red Bull can resolve their issues and secure a fifth title for Verstappen.
In a related development, Verstappen appeared to subtly express his opinion on Lawson’s demotion by “liking” an Instagram post from former F1 driver Giedo van der Garde, which described the decision as a “panic move.”
Red Bull Admits Mistake in Demoting Liam Lawson
