Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko thinks the brand is in a “luxury position” when it comes to deciding upon which drivers will represent RB in the 2025 Formula 1 season.
With Sergio Perez having penned an extension to partner Max Verstappen again next term, Red Bull’s focus will divert towards sorting out its second-string outfit, RB.
RB CEO Peter Bayer has expressed his preference to retain Yuki Tsunoda, who has claimed points on five occasions in this campaign to emerge as its standout driver.
Tsunoda seems set to earn a renewal unless he decides to seek an independent opening elsewhere, but Red Bull is in a predicament over who to slot in alongside him.
While Daniel Ricciardo has struggled to match his less experienced team-mate on a consistent basis, RB has been positive about the impact the Australian has made.
However, Marko is rumoured to have guaranteed a permanent drive to Liam Lawson, who impressed when he deputised in Ricciardo’s place at five rounds last season.
“With Liam Lawson as reserve, we have a strong driver who, contractually, can drive for another team if he does not get a seat with us in 2025,” he told Kleine Zeitung.
“In this sense, it would be nice if we could see him in Formula 1 this year to have a clearer picture, but it is a complex issue. We will have to see how things evolve.”
When asked therefore who was the likeliest racer to be Tsunoda’s team-mate at the Faenza-based squad next season, Marko replied: “It’s a luxury problem!”
Meanwhile, Marko has not ruled out another driver being promoted from within Red Bull’s ranks, with Ayumu Iwasa having caught his attention over in Super Formula.
Iwasa classified fourth in Formula 2 last season and now sits third in the Japanese series, while the Japanese racer also made his F1 debut at Suzuka in FP1 with RB.
He added: “In addition to Tsunoda, we have another Honda driver who is completing good races and that is Iwasa.
“He has not won a race yet this year because he had two bad starts, but he is still third in the championship.”
“These are two Japanese drivers who have a long-term contract with us, so we have to see how that goes in the long term.”
Questioned on what Iwasa needs to produce to be a serious candidate to get on the F1 grid in 2025, Marko responded: “Win the Super Formula championship.
“Let’s first see how he wins. His first race was not good, but in the second race he was actually the best driver.”
Marko has also commended Isack Hadjar’s showings in F2, with the Frenchman landing two victories and another podium to reside in second in the Drivers’ standings.
“We have Hadjar who is doing very well in Formula 2 and also [Pepe] Marti, although he still makes too many mistakes,” he continued.
“With Hadjar you have to remember that he was knocked around during the first race and that he has also had technical problems twice, while he was in a winning position.
“He’s still second in the championship, so he’s definitely one of the fastest and most consistent guys in this year’s championship.”
Marko reckons the impressive outings the Red Bull prospects are putting in across the board have silenced the critics surrounding its driver development programme.
“We also have fast guys in Formula 3. A few years ago they all said that our juniors would not perform well enough, but what do they have to say now?” he concluded.
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