Halmur Marko has made some telling comments. (Image: Getty)
Helmut Marko has admitted it wasn’t Liam Lawson’s pace in an F1 car which got him a role alongside at next season. for for the 2025 campaign, elevated ahead of fellow RB driver .
That was despite Tsunoda’s superior experience, with the Japanese driver having started 87 Grand Prix races.
Lawson meanwhile, has raced just 11 times in F1, replacing midway through last season after the Australian was released early from his contract.
And now advisor Marko has revealed that it was Tsunoda’s temperament and lack of reliability, as opposed to his track speed, that led to the decision. “Yuki is certainly the faster of the two in terms of speed at the moment,” he said.
“But he doesn’t have the necessary consistency and keeps making mistakes. Then there are his outbursts of anger, which have improved significantly, but they remain a factor. Then he loses control.”
The comments are unlikely to please Tsunoda, who secured nine top-10 finishes in 2024. That was enough for 30 points, and 12th place overall in the drivers’ standings.
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
Yuki Tsunoda was overlooked. (Image: Getty)
Marko also labelled Lawson the “mentally strongest” of all of the team’s junior drivers. And he believes that the former Toyota Racing Series competitor will be able to comprehend being the clear No.2 to Verstappen.
“We believe that it would lead to great difficulties emotionally if Tsunoda realised, next to Max, that he couldn’t beat him,” continued Marko. “He possibly couldn’t even get close and what if things weren’t going as he had imagined?”
Tsunoda, 24, had previously said it would be “weird” if were to replace Perez with Lawson, as opposed to him. But he’ll now remain at the development team and race alongside 20-year-old Isack Hadjar.
Don’t miss…
Marko has reportedly already demanded from Lawson that he must stay within three tenths of Verstappen during qualifying. It follows Perez finishing in eighth place overall this year, with losing their constructors’ crown to .
That had followed the Mexican’s best career season, finishing second and even threatening a title challenge of his own after winning two of the first four races. However, tension was rife between him and Verstappen, when the Dutchman refused team orders to let his partner pass him.