Ralf Schumacher: 'Red Bull should have gotten rid of Lawson altogether'

Former F1 driver, Ralf Schumacher, has criticised Red Bull Racing's approach to its drivers' management, claiming Yuki Tsunoda taking over from Liam Lawson is yet another wrong choice, with the German he would have picked a different driver to take the second seat at the Austrian team next to Max Verstappen.

Schumacher, in conversation with Sky Sports Germany, sums up Red Bull's decision to replace Lawson with Tsunoda, a choice he ultimately understands, but doesn't support. "You are replaced like a wet rag after two races. That's harsh.

"On the other hand, I'm amazed at what [Helmut Marko]'s doing with the Racing Bulls now. Because, to be honest, there are enough young drivers who could have been put there.

"I wouldn't have put Liam Lawson in a Formula 1 car now. I would have preferred to give the chance directly to a young driver - there are enough on hold. Because one thing is also clear: he will probably never become a top rider, and in such a situation you can go to the next one in line and try your luck."

The F1 Grand Prix winner holds Red Bull Racing's team principal Christian Horner and chief advisor Helmut Marko responsible for the complicated situation.

"Red Bull must now urgently draw conclusions from the whole thing. I think there's just no harmony there anymore. Christian Horner also seems to have been wrong [to remain] in his position.

"In my opinion, he backed the wrong horses, lost the good people - and this is the result now. So in the management area, that was and is really bad."

Of Marko he said: "And as far as the young drivers are concerned, Red Bull invests so much time and money in building up the young drivers, and Dr. Marko often has a lucky hand.

"But now I have to say, [though] this is not a total failure, it is not far [fetched] of Dr. Helmut Marko, who pushed Liam Lawson too far into it. And I think two races are just not enough for a young driver. One should have worked more with him. That's why I say: The whole thing is senseless."

Tsunoda 'the wrong choice' according to Schumacher

Tsunoda will have the task to get closer to Verstappen as of the Japanese Grand Prix, but doesn't believe the former Racing Bulls driver wil cut it, and instead looks to Nico Hulkenberg as the best choice. "Personally, however, I don't see any juniors [being] next to Max at the moment.

This article was written in collaboration with Mitchel van der Hoef.

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