It hasn’t been an ideal start to the 2025 Formula 1 season for Red Bull Racing. The team’s decision to part ways with Sergio “Checo” Perez and replace him with Liam Lawson raised doubts early on. Lawson’s performances in the first two races didn’t help, as he finished near the bottom of the standings, and current champion Max Verstappen was also concerned about that.
Red Bull’s advisor, Helmut Marko, addressed the media two days ago to discuss Lawson’s underwhelming start and the arrival of Yuki Tsunoda. Marko’s comments made it clear that the team wasn’t satisfied with Lawson’s results, but Tsunoda’s inclusion also raised a number of questions among fans.
For some, Tsunoda’s signing appears to be a move orchestrated in collaboration with Honda, leading to concerns about his readiness. However, the Japanese driver’s F1 experience has brought some hope. Tsunoda himself shared his thoughts on joining Red Bull and what he hopes to bring to the team.
“Of course, I was happy about joining Red Bull, but when I thought about it carefully, the idea of suddenly racing for them at the Japanese Grand Prix felt so unreal. I don’t want to raise expectations too much, but for this race, I want to finish on the podium. That said, I know it won’t be easy from the start,“ Tsunoda said.
Yuki Tsunoda of Japan and Visa Cash App Racing Bulls prepares to drive during the F1 Grand Prix of China at Shanghai International Circuit on March 23, 2025 in Shanghai, China.|
Tsunoda’s message to his new team
Yuki Tsunoda has grown significantly since his Formula 1 debut, and as he prepares for his next steps with Red Bull Racing, he shared his thoughts on what lies ahead. After Max Verstappen’s dominant performance in securing the driver’s championship last season, Tsunoda is focused on helping the team continue its success in 2025.
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He is a two-time champion, had a strong rivalry with Michael Schumacher, and survived a nearly fatal accident
“My priority is to first understand the car, how it behaves compared to the VCARB. If I can naturally enjoy driving it as I get familiar with it during FP1, then the results will follow. And if that leads to a podium finish, that would be incredible,“ Tsunoda said in a media session on Saturday.
With the challenging task of adapting to a car that even Verstappen has described as difficult to handle, Tsunoda is under the spotlight. Red Bull Racing is keen on maximizing their performance this season, and Tsunoda’s ability to rise to the challenge will be critical to the team’s goals.
Tsunoda embraces the challenge ahead
As Verstappen’s new teammate, Tsunoda opened up about the call he received from Red Bull and expressed his excitement about the opportunity, despite the pressure.
“When I first got the call, I thought: ‘Wow, this is going to be interesting,'” Tsunoda recalled. “More than anything, I’m excited about the challenge ahead. There aren’t many moments in life where you face this kind of extreme pressure and an opportunity as big as this, so I can only imagine that it’s going to be an incredibly thrilling race.”
