Tsunoda, just what Red Bull needs? Marko: 'He has this enormous factor'

Yuki Tsunoda had been expecting his promotion from Racing Bulls to Red Bull Racing, and the Austrian team's chief advisor, praises Honda's protegé ahead of his Red Bull debut at his home race, the Japanese Grand Prix.

"Yuki is in his fifth year. And experience in such difficult conditions is an enormous factor," says Marko in conversation with Motorsport.

"Yuki has repeatedly emphasised that he’s actually the right man for Red Bull Racing. We gave him two or three simulator sessions, and those were very good. Also his technical feedback — something he had been criticised for in the past — was very solid," added the Austrian, highlighting the, so far, good start to Tsunoda's Red Bull Racing tenure.

Liam Lawson, the driver the Milton Keynes-based outfit had chosen to become Max Verstappen's teammate for the 2025 season, was demoted following a myriad of mediocre results and his second consecutive weekend without scoring points on the board, brought Tsunoda to the fore as the Kiwi' driver's replacement.

"Yes, after Shanghai. We had to act quickly. And everything was positive. Also the technical feedback — which he had often been accused of lacking, that he didn’t understand the technical side or couldn’t set up a car — that also turned out to be incorrect."

Yuki Tsunoda driving the VCARB02 at the Chinese Grand Prix 

Although Marko states that should the Japanese driver had wanted to opt out of the promotion to Red Bull, he would not have been able to do so, the Austrian adds that in Tsunoda's mind, the switch to Red Bull, was only a matter of time. "From a contractual standpoint, yes. But Yuki had quietly expected this to happen all along. The only surprise was that it came so quickly," Marko concluded.