Red Bull’s motorsport advisor recently shared insights into the conversation he had with Max Verstappen after the surprising decision to swap Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda. This move, announced last Thursday by the team headquartered in Milton Keynes, wasn’t exactly met with joy from the Dutch driver.
As the Japanese Grand Prix weekend approaches, Tsunoda will team up with Verstappen for what will be a memorable home race for the Japanese competitor. In this switch, Tsunoda becomes the fifth teammate Verstappen has had in a span of seven years.
Verstappen didn’t hide his disappointment over Lawson’s quick demotion back to Racing Bulls after just two races. He believed the New Zealander deserved more time with the challenging RB21. However, Marko explained that the team’s decision was driven by their goal to secure a fifth consecutive F1 drivers’ title, which required a change in the second driver slot.
“He’s right about Lawson needing more time,” Marko agreed in an interview with Formel1.de. “But we had to make him understand that to win the championship, we must ensure both cars finish in the top 10. Max even mentioned that the car is tough to handle, and that Lawson might perform better if the car improves.”
### Why Tsunoda’s Promotion Now?
This decision to promote Tsunoda while moving Lawson back after just two races sparked a significant question: why wasn’t the 24-year-old given the chance to replace Sergio Perez earlier?
Marko explained that although Tsunoda had shown inconsistency in the past, he has developed into a more complete driver. “Every decision we made was unanimous,” Marko clarified. “We’ve always known Tsunoda is quick, but his performance was inconsistent at times. That’s why we initially leaned towards Lawson. However, Yuki has evolved remarkably, adjusting his management, and in our current situation, he’s simply the best choice.”
The gaming world always buzzes with unpredictable decisions and developments, and it seems the motorsport world shares a similar flair for drama and strategic moves. How these changes will play out on the track promises to be a gripping story.
