Yuki Tsunoda has received the opportunity of a lifetime and will step up to drive for Red Bull’s Formula 1 team for the first time at his home race in Japan.
The Japanese Grand Prix is a significant event for the Milton Keynes-based outfit due to their partnership with Honda. It’s even they would love to succeed at.
For the first time, Red Bull will have a Japanese driver behind the wheel as Tsunoda steps up from the Visa Cash App Racing Bulls team.
It’s a gut-wrenching ordeal for Liam Lawson, who received just two races (including a wet one) to prove that he was the driver for the future.
Jolyon Palmer is already worried about Tsunoda at Red Bull and doubts whether he is making a car upgrade by getting behind the wheel of the senior team’s car.
Still, it’s probably a nicer position to be in than his ex-teammate. Will Buxton called Lawson’s Red Bull exit ‘laughable’ and thinks that his replacement needs some ‘good luck’ to survive.
READ MORE: Damon Hill sends Yuki Tsunoda instant three-word message after replacing Liam Lawson at Red Bull
Red Bull are not ‘entirely convinced’ by Yuki Tsunoda’s F1 skills after Liam Lawson swap
One of the reasons why Lawson’s swap after two races is confusing is that they’re replacing him with the very man who they decided wasn’t better than him just a few months ago.
Ralf Schumacher believes Tsunoda is not doing himself any favours replacing Lawson at Red Bull. It could be a harmful move for his career.
According to the Dutch outlet Telegraaf, the Austrian team are not ‘entirely convinced’ by their new driver’s skill set.
Tsunoda currently sits 13th in the drivers’ championship with three points after two races. It could have been a lot more if his strategy had been perfected.
After four seasons in the sport, the Japanese driver has failed to score a podium. His best finish remains fourth – a result he managed during his rookie season.
Honda offered Red Bull £17 million to partner Max Verstappen with Tsunoda at the end of last year. It’s unknown whether a similar deal has just been agreed.
READ MORE: Sergio Perez had private concern about Yuki Tsunoda being promoted at Red Bull ahead of his F1 exit
Why Red Bull might have signed Yuki Tsunoda at the worst possible time
Tsunoda now faces a lot of pressure to perform not only at his home race but in front of his new team and his perennial backers in Honda.
A good result would go a long way towards securing his future in the sport at a top team. On the other hand, it could spell disaster for Red Bull if he performs badly.
It would be official confirmation that there may only be one man on the planet who can drive that car. Their engineers have done a poor job with the RB21 and probably their last few iterations.
Verstappen is already setting off ‘alarm bells’ at Red Bull and if their poor performance continues, he may begin to look at other options.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has always made his interest in the four-time champion clear. It would be a mega shake-up for the Formula 1 field.
