P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Yuki Tsunoda replaced Liam Lawson as Max Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate in early 2025. Helmut Marko compliments the Japanese driver.
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko believes Yuki Tsunoda is the first teammate of Max Verstappen who has the potential to match the pace of the four-time champion. Tsunoda replaced Liam Lawson after the first two rounds due to Lawson’s struggles. Despite facing his own challenges, Tsunoda has made it to Q3 three times in the RB21 and earned six championship points. Marko expressed confidence in Tsunoda’s improvement but noted that he still struggles with making too many mistakes under pressure. Red Bull has faced difficulties in keeping up with McLaren in the current season, with championship leader Oscar Piastri earning praise for his impressive performance, while Marko also acknowledged Isack Hadjar’s achievement of securing a championship point in Miami.
