Helmut Marko’s private reaction to Yuki Tsunoda’s best Red Bull result could be bad news for Liam Lawson

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Yuki Tsunoda recorded his best finish since joining Red Bull Racing at last weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Red Bull were potentially the happiest team in the paddock after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, mainly due to Max Verstappen’s fourth win of the season.

Verstappen has put himself back in the frame to win the drivers’ championship this year after Oscar Piastri failed to score a point for the first time this season, and his McLaren teammate, Lando Norris, couldn’t capitalise.

One of the main reasons that Norris couldn’t make more of a dent in his teammate’s championship lead was Yuki Tsunoda.

Tsunoda is under pressure at Red Bull, having only scored nine points for the team heading into Sunday’s race in Baku.

However, while drivers all around him were making mistakes in qualifying, he secured P6 and managed to hold up Norris throughout the final stint of the race to maintain that position as he took the chequered flag.

Pierre Gasly offered Tsunoda some advice heading into the race weekend, as it emerged that his only option outside of the Red Bull family to stay on the grid for 2026 was no longer available at Alpine.

Tsunoda knows he needs to impress team principal Laurent Mekies and advisor Helmut Marko if he stands any chance of retaining his seat for next year, and journalist Jon Noble reports from the Baku paddock that he might have finally made the right impression.

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Helmut Marko was ‘very smiley’ with ‘bouncing’ Yuki Tsunoda after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Noble was speaking after Sunday’s Grand Prix on The Race F1 Podcast, and looking back at Tsunoda’s performance, he said: “He [Tsunoda] says what was encouraging from the weekend was that he’s found something in the car.

“They made a change in the car. He was back in the simulator after Monza, working through things, trying to understand the car and where it’s at, and he says they found something, unlocked a discovery that’s been applied to the car.

“He won’t say what it is. Laurent Mekies won’t say what it is. So, it’s obviously something quite critical to performance.

“They don’t want other teams to find out about it, but it’s definitely made him more comfortable.

“We saw him tonight. Helmut Marko, in the team hut, patted him on the back, very smiley. Laurent Mekies was very happy with him.

“Yuki was kind of bubbly and bouncing around, which is in contrast to how he’s been at previous races. Very glum, disappointed, frustrated with himself.

“So, I think there are signs of progress and progress enough for Laurent to admit that, yes, they do face a difficult choice in terms of drivers now for 2026 because they still want to make that decision before the end of the season.

“So it’s a weekend where, if Lindblad is getting this step up to Formula 1 at Racing Bulls, they’re going to have to choose between Liam Lawson or Yuki Tsunoda in terms of who’s going to make way, ultimately, as part of that package, if then Hadjar is moving up to Red Bull.”

READ MORE: Who is Red Bull motorsport adviser Helmut Marko? Everything to know

Yuki Tsunoda future update provided by Ted Kravitz after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Tsunoda might have been delighted with his result in Baku, but it wasn’t all positive.

With Isack Hadjar looking set to be promoted from Racing Bulls to Red Bull during the winter break, Tsunoda is in a head-to-head battle with Liam Lawson to stay on the grid.

This is because Marko seems keen to promote Arvid Lindblad from Formula 2 for 2026, although the British teenager’s recent form has been shaky to say the least.

While Marko was pleased for Tsunoda, he would have been even more impressed with Lawson.

The New Zealander qualified third and held off Tsunoda during the closing stages to record the best result of his Formula 1 career.

Ted Kravitz believes Tsunoda will ‘probably’ be at Racing Bulls next season, but Lawson is doing everything he can to make sure he’s not the driver who misses out.