Yuki Tsunoda will make his debut for Red Bull at the Japanese Grand Prix next weekend. The team confirmed on Thursday that he was replacing Liam Lawson with immediate effect.
It might be a pure coincidence that Tsunoda’s first race will be his home GP. Red Bull decided that they had to make an immediate change after what they saw in China.
Lawson qualified last for both the Sprint and the main Grand Prix before finishing 14th and 12th respectively. Rather than expecting an improvement, Christian Horner and Helmut Marko were worried that his crisis of confidence would deepen, as would the team’s championship predicament.
Engine suppliers Honda will be delighted by the timing of their driver’s ascent. Tsunoda will complete a Red Bull show run in Tokyo ahead of the race at Suzuka.
He scored his first point on home soil last year at the third attempt. In 2025, the pressure will ramp up dramatically, making this a key litmus test of his psychological readiness for Red Bull.
Helmut Marko praises Yuki Tsunoda lap times and feedback after Red Bull simulator run
Red Bull arguably disrespected Lawson by inviting Tsunoda to drive their simulator this week even before the swap was announced. Speaking to ServusTV, Marko offered a verdict on the 24-year-old’s performance.
He apparently showed ‘very good’ pace, while also offering the team useful technical feedback. Christian Horner previously had concerns over Tsunoda’s comments to his engineers.
Marko is optimistic that Tsunoda can match his virtual times in the real world, or at least get within a couple of tenths. His familiarity with the circuit should help him.
The Austrian is also relieved that the new signing is making his debut in a conventional race weekend. Lawson perhaps suffered from only having one hour of practice before Sprint qualifying in China, a circuit he hadn’t driven before.
“Tsunoda has already been on the simulator with us at Red Bull Racing and has given us some very good results,” Marko said. “He also made technical statements.
“Yuki is in his fifth year and, yes, it is his home Grand Prix, but Suzuka is one of the most difficult race tracks, which as a Japanese driver he knows very well from the junior formulae. We see that as an advantage.
Added: “He was on the simulator for two days and simulators like these are so accurate that you can compare the times with reality to within a tenth or two tenths.
“That’s one thing and the other, thank God, is that it’s a normal Grand Prix, which means he has three practice sessions and then a qualifying session. So the preparation time is relatively good for him.”
Jolyon Palmer saw something concerning in Yuki Tsunoda’s data before he took Red Bull chance
Former Toro Rosso boss Franz Tost ‘vehemently’ pushed for Tsunoda to get the Red Bull seat last winter. He was both quicker and more experienced than Lawson.
Indeed, Racing Bulls insiders thought Tsunoda was the right choice, and Horner will now surely regret overlooking their input. Red Bull are already 42 points behind McLaren in the world championship, with Max Verstappen responsible for 100% of their tally.
After qualifying in Shanghai, Max Verstappen claimed Racing Bulls had a faster car than Red Bull. This claim was supported by the data, with Tsunoda on for a similar lap to his future teammate before a mistake in sector three.
Jolyon Palmer is worried about Tsunoda after seeing the times. There’s a distinct possibility that one of Lawson or Isack Hadjar will outqualify him this weekend as he adapts to the notoriously tricky Red Bull handling.
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