Christian Horner, the former Red Bull Racing team principal, has attributed the decision to switch drivers Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda early in the 2025 Formula 1 season to team advisor Helmut Marko. After a challenging start to the year, Lawson, the New Zealand driver, was moved back to Racing Bulls following just two races, with Tsunoda taking his place in the senior team.
Background on the Driver Change and Team Challenges
The swap came amid an underwhelming campaign for both drivers, with Tsunoda also struggling to meet expectations at Red Bull before being demoted to reserve driver status after the season. Horner, who was relieved of his duties in July amid the team’s wider struggles and uncertainty about Max Verstappen’s future with the outfit, pointed to Marko as the key influence behind the rapid driver reshuffle.
Horner’s Reflections on Internal Dynamics at Red Bull
Speaking in the new Drive to Survive series, Horner stated,
“I was always pushed to take drivers from the [Red Bull] young driver programme. Helmut was a big driver in it,”
highlighting Marko’s strong influence on team decisions. Horner also indicated that Marko’s involvement extended beyond driver choices and was a factor in his own departure from Red Bull Racing.
Future Prospects for Horner and Impact on Red Bull
Following his exit, the 52-year-old Englishman described receiving the news of his firing as akin to getting a “shit sandwich.” Despite this, Horner remains interested in returning to Formula 1 in some capacity, possibly as a team owner. With Marko announcing his own departure from Formula 1 in December after two decades with Red Bull, the team faces significant leadership changes that could affect its future direction and driver management strategies.
