Red Bull F1 star 'not good enough' as title hopes forgotten

Max Verstappen, Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull, FIA, Imola, 2025 — Photo: © IMAGO

Formula 1

Red Bull star 'not good enough' as title hopes forgotten

Helmut Marko has criticised one of his drivers

Sam Cook Digital Journalist

Sports Journalist who has been covering motorsport since 2023

Thursday 12 June 2025 19:00

Red Bull chief Helmut Marko has labelled Yuki Tsunoda's performances as 'not good enough', with the Austrian writing off the F1 constructors' championship.

Tsunoda replaced Liam Lawson from the Japanese Grand Prix onwards, but has only managed to acquire seven points in seven race weekends.

The Japanese driver still sits above Lawson - who was demoted to Racing Bulls - in the drivers' championship, but is 11 points behind rookie Isack Hadjar, who has been racing with the brand's junior team all-season long.

Article continues under video

As a result of their problems with the second Red Bull seat, the Milton Keynes-based outfit now sit 218 points behind constructors' championship leaders McLaren.

However, this has caused Marko to confess that their dreams of reclaiming that particular crown are over just nine races into the season.

"For the constructors' championship, we have already forgotten about the title, we have no chance of that anymore," Marko wrote in his column for Speedweek.

"Tsunoda has scored one championship point in the last three races and that’s not good enough."

Will Red Bull axe Tsunoda?

Despite Tsunoda's form, Marko has also reiterated that the 25-year-old will remain in the seat for at least the whole of the 2025 season, as Red Bull look for some stability.

Lawson had replaced Sergio Perez after the 2024 season, meaning Red Bull have had four different 'full-time' racers in their two cars in the last six months.

While Hadjar's great form - he has outscored both Verstappen and Tsunoda combined in the last two race weekends - will likely be a temptation for Red Bull, but the way Lawson and Tsunoda's confidence has been rocked by the RB21 means it makes more sense to leave the rookie driver where he is.

However, the Frenchman will surely be a contender to replace Tsunoda for 2026, with the Japanese racer's contract within the Red Bull family up at the end of the season.

NASCAR Red Bull Yuki Tsunoda Liam Lawson Helmut Marko