Ex-F1 team boss hits out at Red Bull’s decision to sign Liam Lawson as Max Verstappen’s teammate
Guenther Steiner took a dig at Red Bull's decision to promote Liam Lawson over Yuki Tsunoda as Max Verstappen's teammate at Red Bull.
Follow Us
Liam Lawson and Max Verstappen (via Getty Images)
Red Bull suffered from multiple troubles in the 2024 season which caused their imminent defeat in the constructors’ championship. Sergio Perez‘s woeful results against Max Verstappen‘s dominant performances took a hit on their standings. As a result, Perez parted ways with the team and they signed Liam Lawson as the replacement for 2025. Ex-F1 team boss Guenther Steiner took a dig at Milton Keynes’ decision to not prefer RB’s Yuki Tsunoda over Lawson for the 2025 season.
Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson participated in a test against one another to ultimately secure a seat at Red Bull alongside Max Verstappen. Tsunoda failed to perform well which provided Lawson with a move to the parent team. Guenther Steiner hit out at the team and noted that this wasn’t the ‘perfect choice’. The Italian-American highlighted that the decision was more of a ‘compromise’. The 59-year-old asserted that the Japanese driver should’ve received the promotion.
I don’t think that was the perfect choice. Everything was a compromise, it’s one of [those] choices. I’m in the opinion that [Tsunoda] should have been given the chance.
Guenther Steiner told GPblog
Steiner believed that promoting Tsunoda, even for a year at Red Bull would’ve been a better option. The team could then assess the situation and decide on the 24-year-old’s future. However, the Japanese driver now had to sit another year at the junior team with little to no hopes of a move up the chain at Red Bull which was ‘demotivating’ for him.
Would have been a better bet, say we put him in the car one year, and see how he’s doing. If he’s not good, let him go. Now he’s sitting another year in the Racing Bull, and it’s not motivational for the guy as well.
Guenther Steiner added
Guenther Steiner slams Red Bull over Yuki Tsunoda F1 snub:
— This is Formula 1 (@ThisIsFormu1a1) February 2, 2025
— Guenther Steiner believes Red Bull made a mistake by selecting Liam Lawson over Yuki Tsunoda for the 2025 seat alongside Max Verstappen.
— Lawson earned the Red Bull seat after just six races with RB (now Racing… pic.twitter.com/hcXloTTFcy
Guenther Steiner takes a dig at RB’s ‘junior team’ label
Multiple drivers from RB (previously AlphaTauri) like Alex Albon and Pierre Gasly received a similar opportunity but were ousted prematurely. Guenther Steiner pointed out that Yuki Tsunoda was suffering from a similar fate. The Italian-American questioned why even keep Tsunoda around if he wasn’t going to be promoted. The 59-year-old questioned what RB was if not a junior team to Red Bull in Formula 1.
He’s doing more of the same, but he’s not exposed to make the step. It’s like he’s not given the opportunity, so why keep him around? I don’t know. His fifth year in the junior team, right? Is it a junior team, or what is it?
Guenther Steiner noted
Tsunoda will be paired up with debutant Isack Hadjar at RB in the 2025 season. The Japanese driver has performed better than most of his teammates at RB. Hence, the coming season might be similar if not better for the Japanese driver. The 24-year-old will have to keep up with performances despite not being considered for a move up to Red Bull.
Stay Updated!
Aditya Pandya
(1495 Articles Published)