Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko suggests that Max Verstappen’s Formula 1 teammates should concentrate on delivering their best performance rather than trying to outperform the Dutch driver. Verstappen, a four-time world champion, has earned a reputation as a “teammate killer,” with many drivers struggling to match his pace and eventually being dropped from Red Bull.
This season, Liam Lawson was removed from the Milton Keynes team after just two races due to poor results, and his successor, Yuki Tsunoda, is also finding it tough to compete with the RB21. Marko, who oversees the team’s young driver program, offers a key piece of advice for those stepping into the second Red Bull seat: “Everyone who races alongside Max must stop trying to beat him and instead focus on maximizing their own potential and supporting the team. Right now, beating Max is nearly impossible.”
Tsunoda has gone seven races without scoring points, reinforcing the view that Red Bull currently functions as a single-driver team. Although Tsunoda is contracted until the end of 2025, uncertainty remains about whether his backer, Honda, will continue its partnership with Red Bull or move to support rival team Aston Martin under new regulations. Marko acknowledges that Red Bull is keeping its options open and Tsunoda’s future will be decided based on his performance later in the season. “Driver evaluations usually happen after the summer break,” he said. “At this stage, nothing is set in stone. We are assessing both the positives and negatives.”
Fan Take: This update highlights the dominance of Verstappen within the Red Bull team and underscores how difficult it is for teammates to shine alongside him, which could influence driver dynamics and team strategies in F1. For fans, this situation adds intrigue around Tsunoda’s development and Honda’s future moves, potentially shaking up the sport’s competitive landscape.
