Yuki Tsunoda has shared what Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has ‘promised’ him ahead of debuting for the Formula 1 giant at the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday.
The 24-year-old is finally getting a chance to show what he can give beside Max Verstappen this weekend after Red Bull initially snubbed Tsunoda to promote Liam Lawson in December. Red Bull have pulled a quick U-turn on that decision with Lawson demoted after two rounds.
Horner feels Tsunoda is now the right choice to be Verstappen’s teammate as his experience can help Red Bull to improve the RB21. Lawson failed to adjust to the car’s precise front end and loose rear leading the 23-year-old to be the slowest in both qualifying sessions in China.
It was rather brutal of the Milton Keynes team to demote the Kiwi after just two rounds. But Red Bull grew frustrated with Lawson’s lack of progress adapting to the RB21 which, due to its inconsistent balance in Shanghai, Verstappen claimed may only be the fourth-fastest car.
Christian Horner has ‘promised’ Red Bull will not stop Yuki Tsunoda beating Max Verstappen
Verstappen has so far overcome his RB21’s issues to rank second in the F1 drivers’ standings and be just eight points behind leader Lando Norris. Horner has also been ‘very direct’ with Tsunoda that Verstappen’s title bid is Red Bull’s priority as he pursues a fifth crown in a row.
But Horner has also made it clear that Tsunoda will not always have to yield Grand Prix wins to Verstappen should the Japanese pilot find himself ahead of the Dutchman on a track. The drivers’ title is the goal but Red Bull will let Tsunoda compete for wins if he is there on merit.
READ MORE: Red Bull driver Yuki Tsunoda’s life outside F1 from height to parents
“In the end, Red Bull Racing are focused on Max scoring a drivers’ championship,” Tsunoda has told BBC Radio 5 Live ahead of the Japanese GP. “He has proven himself to have good potential to be a world champion – even though Red Bull seem to be struggling a little now.
“Performance-wise, [Horner] wants me to be as close to Max as possible. In some races, I can help with the strategy but he also promised me in some situations that if I’m able to be in front of Max that he wouldn’t necessarily ask me to swap positions and make Max win.”
Yuki Tsunoda can be Red Bull’s first race winner not named Max Verstappen in 23 months
Lawson has left Tsunoda an easy benchmark to beat at Red Bull after the Kiwi crashed out of the Australian Grand Prix running slick tyres in the wet on his debut with the team. He could also only claim P12 in the Chinese Grand Prix despite Red Bull giving Lawson a kinder set-up.
READ MORE: Who is Racing Bulls F1 driver Liam Lawson? Everything you need to know
Red Bull took Lawson’s car out of parc fermé to adapt his set-up in Shanghai after being the slowest in qualifying. They will hope their latest new recruit does not also struggle, and will take comfort in Tsunoda did not find the RB21 ‘particularly difficult’ in Red Bull’s simulator.
Tsunoda will now look to take his positive foundations into his debut on home soil at Suzuka and beyond. Securing a promotion to Red Bull should provide the Kanagawa native a chance to stand on a Grand Prix podium after claiming a best finish of P4 in the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP.
But it has now been 23 months since a Red Bull driver not named Verstappen has won an F1 race. Sergio Perez took his ultimately last victory for Red Bull at the 2023 Azerbaijan GP after earning the lead from Verstappen under a safety car. Verstappen has won 26 from 44 since.
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