Yuki Tsunoda is preparing for his Red Bull debut on home soil at the Japanese Grand Prix after replacing Liam Lawson, but already risks repeating his precursor’s mistake.
Changes arrived in Milton Keynes just two rounds into the 2025 Formula 1 season after Red Bull decided that Lawson was unlikely to improve his difficult start. The 23-year-old only got Australia and China to show his skill after replacing Sergio Perez and returns to Racing Bulls.
Lawson and Tsunoda are switching seats from this weekend as Red Bull believe the 24-year-old’s experience can now help them to improve the difficult RB21 and their F1 constructors’ championship hopes. Even Max Verstappen has bemoaned the RB21’s inconsistent balance.
Red Bull already trail defending constructors’ champions McLaren by 42 points thanks partly to Lawson’s zero score from the first two rounds. Now, Tsunoda has replaced Lawson at Red Bull ahead of the Japanese GP after Red Bull grew frustrated with Lawson’s lack of progress.
Yuki Tsunoda wants Red Bull to build his Japanese GP set-up ‘differently’ from Max Verstappen’s
Tsunoda has already driven the RB21 in Red Bull’s simulator as the Kanagawa native went to their Milton Keynes factory even before confirmation of Lawson’s demotion arrived. He also did not feel the RB21 was ‘particularly difficult’ to drive as he prepared for the Japanese GP.
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The RB21 gave Lawson issues in Australia and China as Red Bull’s car has a precise front end and loose rear created largely to suit Verstappen’s driving style. Yet Tsunoda wants Red Bull to let him build a different set-up for the Japanese GP to Verstappen’s to feel the most easy.
“I spent about two days in the simulator,” Tsunoda said, via quotes by Speedweek. “Based on that experience, I don’t find the car particularly difficult to drive.
“Of course, the way I want to set up the car is different from Max’s. I want to develop my own set-up, get a good understanding of it and gradually push myself to the limits from the first practice session.”
Yuki Tsunoda now risks repeating Liam Lawson’s Red Bull set-up mistake at Suzuka
Tsunoda asking Red Bull to let him move away from Verstappen’s set-up at the Japanese GP could already see the home hero risk repeating Lawson’s mistakes which ultimately cost the Kiwi his seat for the team, having also not gone with Verstappen’s set-up for the Chinese GP.
READ MORE: Who is Racing Bulls F1 driver Liam Lawson? Everything you need to know
Verstappen can usually overcome Red Bull setting their car up to unlock its maximum speed instead of tailoring their set-ups to suit a particular driver. That was one area where Lawson struggled and he continued to bumble after Red Bull gave the Kiwi an easier set-up in China.
Red Bull started Lawson from the pit lane in Shanghai after changing his set-up in parc fermé to afford the Hastings native a kinder car as he continued to struggle with its sharp front and loose rear. Yet he could not carve through the order and only finished the race in 12th place.
It proved to be the final nail in the New Zealander’s coffin – even if Verstappen is not happy with Red Bull demoting Lawson. Verstappen feels Red Bull owe it to both of their drivers to build a car they can push to its limits and Lawson deserved more time to adapt to the RB21.
