Yuki Tsunoda shares the ‘useful tips’ Pierre Gasly privately gave him about how to survive at Red Bull

Yuki Tsunoda is set to be the star of the show at the Japanese Grand Prix as the latest driver called up to drive for Red Bull Racing.

Liam Lawson has been relieved of his duties and sent back to Red Bull’s junior team after two race weekends.

His promotion from Racing Bulls couldn’t have gone worse, with the 23-year-old unable to get to grips with the tricky RB21.

Lawson’s struggles were clear for everyone to hear on his team radio, and now it’s up to Yuki Tsunoda to step up to the plate and support Max Verstappen in his quest to win a fifth world championship.

Tsunoda’s home race at the Japanese Grand Prix is arguably the highest-pressure environment he could have been called up in, especially with Red Bull paying tribute to Honda.

The 24-year-old is the latest in a long line of drivers who have been promoted from Red Bull’s second team to race under Christian Horner and Helmut Marko.

Tsunoda’s first F1 teammate and close personal friend, Pierre Gasly, has been among those offering him advice ahead of his long-awaited Red Bull debut.

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

Pierre Gasly privately gave Yuki Tsunoda advice ahead of Red Bull promotion

Tsunoda was one of the six drivers chosen to take part in the main pre-race weekend press conference at Suzuka.

Asked if he had received any advice heading into the Grand Prix, he said: “I got a message from Pierre, that he wanted to call me and shared a couple of ideas – of what he should have done at Red Bull.

“It was very nice of him, useful tips. And Checo [Perez] as well. Those two have been very supportive.”

Gasly and Sergio Perez know all too well how easy it is to get caught in a downward spiral at Red Bull.

The Frenchman only lasted 12 races before he was swapped with Alex Albon, while Perez was with the team for four seasons.

Gasly was asked about his old Toro Rosso teammate’s promotion and explained: “I think he always had the raw speed. He was a little bit too hectic behind the wheel at times, on the radio and I think in that sense, he’s matured enough in minimising the mistakes.

“It’s a fine line between pushing right at the limit or over pushing slightly too much, which can be quite costly in Formula 1.

“And I think he’s tuned that line, and looking at the past few seasons, I think he’s been putting in a very strong performance.

“Speed-wise, he always had it, but I think it’s just minimising those mistakes.”

READ MORE: Alpine driver Pierre Gasly’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

Pierre Gasly faced the same problem as Liam Lawson before his Red Bull demotion

Red Bull promoted Gasly at the beginning of the 2019 F1 season when Daniel Ricciardo joined Renault.

However, he was replaced halfway through the season, and when asked about the move at the time, he said: “It was at 8.42. It was the morning [when Dr Marko called], and yeah, of course it was kind of a shock that it happened, as it was not what I had been told before Budapest.

“I think everything was pretty clear and discussed over the last few weeks.”

It’s a very similar situation to what Lawson faced heading to Suzuka, as he said to the media in the build-up to this weekend’s race: “I had no idea in China – it was something that was decided, I guess [on] the Monday or Tuesday afterwards.

“I found out after China, basically. It was, I think, for all of us probably more unexpected, but it was after the weekend.”

The pressure is now on Tsunoda to step up alongside Verstappen, and Gasly would have told him exactly why he thinks his spell with the team didn’t go to plan.

Horner has told Lawson why he was demoted, but if Tsunoda’s performance levels are at the same level as the New Zealander’s, then Red Bull’s next choice is even more unclear.