Yuki Tsunoda Explains His Position at Red Bull’s Formula 1 Team
In a recent turn of events at Red Bull Racing, MAX VERSTAPPEN has shown his support for Liam Lawson by liking an Instagram post that accused the team of “bullying” the young driver. This comes in light of Lawson being swiftly replaced by Japan’s Yuki Tsunoda, who will now race alongside the four-time world champion Verstappen.
Lawson, a promising 23-year-old talent, has faced a harsh exit from the team, leading many to believe he deserved more than just two races to prove himself in the RB21. Verstappen’s actions have raised eyebrows, hinting at possible tensions within the team, especially following allegations of “inappropriate behavior” against team principal Christian Horner, which were later cleared by two internal investigations.
On Thursday, Red Bull confirmed that Lawson would return to the sister team Racing Bulls, where he will partner with French rookie Isack Hadjar for the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix. The team stated that the decision to switch drivers was made to protect Lawson after a “difficult” start to the season.
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Lawson’s challenging season began with disappointing performances, including dropping out in Q1 at the rain-soaked Australian Grand Prix and crashing out in the opening race in Melbourne. His struggles continued in Shanghai, where he qualified last in both the sprint and race, despite being in one of the fastest cars in the previous season. Red Bull’s Christian Horner expressed frustration over Lawson’s inability to capitalize on the potential of the RB21, which has been tailored primarily for Verstappen.
In contrast, Tsunoda, who earns nearly double Lawson’s £800,000 salary, managed to qualify fifth in Australia and ninth in China, although he finished outside the top ten in both races due to strategic decisions made by the team.
This abrupt decision has not gone unnoticed in the F1 community. Former Dutch F1 driver, Giedo van der Garde, who raced for Caterham in 2013, criticized the move on Instagram, expressing his belief that it resembled “bullying” rather than a performance-driven decision. He stated:
- “Yes, you have to perform. Yes, the pressure is immense.”
- “However, in my opinion, this feels more like a panic move than a reflection of true athletic achievement.”
- “They made a decision fully aware of the consequences, giving Liam only two races to prove himself, which only serves to crush his spirit.”
- “Let’s not forget the dedication, hard work, and success Liam has put into his career to reach this level.”
Interestingly, Verstappen initially liked Van der Garde’s post, only to later un-like it, which adds another layer of intrigue to his relationship with the team.
Lawson was promoted to the main Red Bull team during the off-season, stepping in for Mexican driver Sergio Perez. With Tsunoda’s promotion, he becomes Verstappen’s sixth different teammate since the Dutch driver joined the team in 2016, following a lineup that includes Daniel Ricciardo, Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Sergio Perez, and Lawson.
Red Bull defended their decision, emphasizing their unique position as the only team with four race seats on the grid, claiming that moving Lawson back to the sister team was a gesture of kindness. Horner remarked:
- “It has been tough to witness Liam struggle with the RB21 in the first two races.”
- “As a result, we collectively decided to make an early switch.”
- “We have a responsibility to protect and nurture Liam’s development, and after such a challenging start, we believe acting quickly is essential.”
Horner expressed hope that Tsunoda’s experience would aid in the development of the RB21 as the season progresses. However, this switch might complicate the dynamics between Lawson and Tsunoda, who have exchanged fiery comments in recent days. Tsunoda expressed his eagerness about the potential swap, stating:
“Absolutely, I’m sure the car is faster.”
In response, Lawson retorted:
“He can say whatever he wants. I’ve raced him for years in junior categories and beaten him. Looking back, I was teammates with him in F3 and won. In Euroformula and New Zealand, I also came out on top. Now it’s my time.”