Source: Radio New Zealand
Liam Lawson. FLORENT GOODEN / PHOTOSPORT
Former Red Bull boss Christian Horner has revealed that it was team advisor Helmut Marko that made the decision to swap Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda early in the 2025 Formula 1 season.
After a difficult start to the 2025 season, the New Zealand driver lasted just two rounds in the top team before he and Tsunoda swapped places with Lawson demoted to Racing Bulls.
Speaking on the new Drive to Survive series Horner said it was Marko that was the driving force behind the change.
Horner was ousted from Red Bull in July with the team underperforming and the future of world champion Max Verstappen uncertain.
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko and driver Liam Lawson. PHOTOSPORT
Marko announced in December that he would be leaving Formula 1 after 20 years with Red Bull.
GP Blog is reporting that Horner said the decision to switch both drivers after just two races was heavily influenced by the Austrian advisor.
“I was always pushed to take drivers from the [Red Bull] young driver programme. Helmut was a big driver in it,” Horner said.
Former Red Bull F1 boss Christian Horner, 2024. David Buono/Icon Sportswire / PHOTOSPORT
Tsunoda also struggled in the Red Bull car and was dropped to reserve driver status following the 2025 season.
Horner also singled out Marko as integral to the decision that led to his dismissal at Red Bull Racing.
The 52-year-old Englishman described his reaction to the news that he had been sacked as like receiving a “shit sandwich”.
Horner has said that he is keen to get involved in Formula 1 again, possibly as a team owner.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
