Home
Helmut Marko has stressed on Red Bull's recent struggle which led to the axing of Liam Lawson. According to Marko, it is the absence of design guru Adrian Newey which proved to be costly for Red Bull. Lawson got demoted to Racing Bulls after participating in just two grand prix in his Red Bull career. Yuki Tsunoda has been entrusted to replace the Kiwi driver, and the stage could not be bigger for him as he will be starting the biggest stint of his life at home in the Japan Grand Prix.
Also Read | Sergio Perez Warned Against Yuki Tsunoda’s Promotion to Red Bull for His Own Protection
Marko Admits Replacing Perez With Lawson Was A 'Mistake'
Marko earlier admitted that turning to Lawson as a replacement for Sergio Perez was a "mistake", claiming that the 23-year-old was unable to cope with the pressure.
However, he did give some doubt to Lawson by stating that RB21, the car that led to Lawson's downfall, is indeed "difficult to drive".
Lawson faced trouble in managing the car and ended up paying up dearly i.e., exiting the first session of all three qualifying sessions in which he took part and, worse still, finishing slowest in qualifying for the sprint and grand prix in China.
Also Read | Kyle Busch To Chase Elliot: Confirmed Driver Lineup and Full Event Schedule at Martinsville Speedway
Marko Mentions The Big Miss
The word is that Red Bull's car hasn't been the same since Newey left the team at the start of May last year before joining Aston Martin.
Marko has accepted that the RB21's lack of performance is related to the fact that Newey is lo longer with Red Bull
"Of course, we're missing a man like that," said Marko, speaking to OE24. "A Newey is a Newey."
In Red Bull's defence, Marko added: "But we're a team of almost a thousand people. The crew behind him was built up gradually."
There are reports that Lawson is returning to a car that is quicker than the Red Bull he drove in Australia and China. Explaining the differences between the two cars, Marko stated: "It's true the RB21 is difficult to drive.
"The Racing Bull is easier to handle and very fast on a qualifying lap. But in the race, it lags significantly behind the Red Bull Racing car."
