Helmut Marko confirms Yuki Tsunoda’s stay at RB for 2025, casts doubt over Liam Lawson’ F1 future by referring to a specific ‘clause’

Yuki Tsunoda has been exceptional for RB this season.

Helmut Marko confirms Yuki Tsunoda’s stay at RB for 2025, casts doubt over Liam Lawson’ F1 future by referring to a specific ‘clause’

Liam Lawson, Yuki Tsunoda and Helmut Marko (VIa: imago)

The Red Bull team advisor, Helmut Marko has shed clarity on the current transfer saga of Yuki Tsunoda at RB. Marko confirmed that Tsunoda will be staying at the team for the 2025 season amidst rumors of the latter’s interest in driving for other teams on the grid.

Helmut Marko has also spoken about the stance around RB reserve driver Liam Lawson, who has been an active prospect for many teams on the grid. Lawson made his F1 debut last season during the Dutch Grand Prix after Daniel Ricciardo sustained a wrist injury in practice.

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Liam Lawson‘s performance last year impressed Red Bull, as he managed to score solid points in the five AlphaTauri (RB) outings. Since then, Helmut Marko has been in praise of the 22-year-old, saying that he deserves a seat on the grid for the 2025 season.

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Tsunoda is set (to stay), that's clear. Liam is there at every race and we are in close contact. There is a clause with Lawson. If we don't offer him an active seat, he is free for other teams.
Helmut Marko said via KleineZeitung

Marko has explained that RB is in close contact with Lawson around the 2025 seat. Moreover, he has also admitted that if the Red Bull sister team cannot offer a drive to the New Zealander, he will be free to look at other options on the grid for next year.

Laurent Mekies entails the importance of Daniel Ricciardo in RB

RB team principal, Laurent Mekies has highlighted the importance of Daniel Ricciardo within the team as an advisor and a driver. Ricciardo joined AlphaTauri (RB) towards the latter half of the 2023 season taking Nyck De Vries‘s place on the team.

Laurent Mekies and Daniel Ricciardo
Laurent Mekies and Daniel Ricciardo (via IMAGO)
Daniel specifically, in the context of the projects, where the team needs to go and helping identify the gaps, it hugely helps to have somebody like Daniel that won eight races, has been at a few teams and knows where the board can be and where the board needs to go.
Laurent Meikes told PlanetF1.com

Daniel Ricciardo has not been at his phenomenal best with RB this season and has struggled to outpace his teammate, Yuki Tsunoda. However, Laurent Mekies has vested his faith in Ricciardo saying that the skilled driver has a lot to offer and will be able to find his pace in due time.

The 34-year-old now faces a tough battle of proving his worth to the Faenza-based team. Ricciardo will now look to maximize his knowledge of the track in Montreal where he won a race earlier in his career as he tries to perform to the best of his abilities. Ricciardo has so far managed to amass five points in the driver’s championship.

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