Yuki Tsunoda has already proven Helmut Marko wrong after doing one thing in the Red Bull simulator

Yuki Tsunoda has had to be patient but is now finally preparing to make his competitive Formula 1 debut for Red Bull Racing.

Red Bull made the call to replace Liam Lawson after subpar performances in Australia and China.

Lawson couldn’t handle the balance of the car, and team principal Christian Horner and chief advisor Helmut Marko had seen enough evidence over the past few months that an immediate change was needed to protect the manufacturer’s interests.

That has handed Yuki Tsunoda the opportunity to make his debut for Red Bull at the Japanese Grand Prix.

Tsunoda has been left with a low benchmark to beat, given Lawson failed to score a point across both race weekends and failed to progress beyond Q1 on three attempts.

However, the RB21 is a much more difficult car to drive, even if it has more potential than the Racing Bulls’ 2025 car.

Tsunoda has already been in the Red Bull simulator and impressed Marko with his rapid progress.

READ MORE: Red Bull driver Yuki Tsunoda’s life outside F1 from height to parents

Yuki Tsunoda has proved Helmut Marko wrong with Red Bull simulator feedback

Marko was speaking to Motorsport in an interview after the Lawson to Tsunoda move was confirmed.

The Austrian was asked whether it’s a good idea to promote Tsunoda when the pressure will be on him at his home race in Japan. He replied: “Once again, Yuki is in his fifth year.

“And experience in such difficult conditions is an enormous factor.

“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.”

Marko then explained that the simulator sessions in question took place after the race in China and continued: “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.”

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

Yuki Tsunoda’s feedback praised by Christian Horner question marks still exist

Tsunoda only has three hours of practice sessions to get up to speed in the RB21 at Suzuka before an 18-minute Q1 qualifying session will demonstrate whether he’s already taken a step closer to Verstappen than Lawson ever did.

It’s far from ideal for the 24-year-old who has enjoyed very limited running in previous Red Bull cars and no pre-season to adapt to his new machine.

Red Bull staff praised Tsunoda for his feedback after he took part in a post-season test with the team in Abu Dhabi last year.

However, Horner has previously questioned Tsunoda’s mental strength, and unless he proves everyone wrong and manages to match Verstappen during the first few races of his time with the team, he’s going to need to prove that he’s got what it takes to deal with being the four-time world champion’s number two.

The last Japanese driver to finish on the podium in Formula 1 was Kamui Kobayashi at his home race 13 years ago.

You can imagine that Tsunoda would give anything to match that feat next Sunday.