Yuki Tsunoda reveals how Liam Lawson’s Red Bull move impacted their friendship, ‘to be honest…’

Yuki Tsunoda will take on one of the hardest jobs in Formula 1 at his home race, when he becomes the sixth teammate to Max Verstappen.

The Japanese driver will make his long-awaited Red Bull debut after Liam Lawson was axed following the first two races of the 2025 season.

Tsunoda was promoted after spending the last four years at Racing Bulls, but was not initially thought to be the right replacement for Sergio Perez by Christian Horner and Helmut Marko.

They felt Tsunoda did not have the mental strength to go up against Max Verstappen, however, now that Lawson has struggled to get to grips with the RB21 they think the Japanese driver will bring his experience to help.

It was an awkward situation for Red Bull to be in, considering they backed Lawson to be the right man to replace Perez before the winter break. Discussing the dynamic within the team, Tsunoda explained how the move has impacted his friendship with Lawson in an interview with BBC Sport.

Yuki Tsunoda thinks friendship with Liam Lawson has been impacted

F1 Oversteer understands Red Bull has not ruled out another swap between Lawson and Tsunoda, should it be necessary later in the year.

Tsunoda has explained that the move in recent months has impacted his friendship with Lawson, which could upset the dynamic within the Red Bull group.

“Hopefully as a friendship, it won’t ruin anything, because I think I felt it a little bit, to be honest for the start of the season this year,” said Tsunoda.

“So we probably don’t have the friendship we used to have when we were fighting through the [junior] categories but that’s natural. I know he’s a fine guy and I know how to make our relationship good, but let’s see how it goes. It’s not easy.”

Yuki Tsunoda could be the first driver since Kamui Kobayashi to earn podium in Japan

Tsunoda faces being the first driver since Kamui Kobayashi in 2012 to finish on the podium in Japan, given Red Bull’s previous success at the track.

Red Bull has won the last three races at Suzuka with Max Verstappen, although McLaren is the most successful team at the track having won there nine times.

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri head into the race with two wins apiece for McLaren, with their car looking like the package to beat.

Red Bull could be a contender for a podium, depending on how well Mercedes and Ferrari start the weekend.