Yuki Tsunoda has a clear objective from Red Bull team principal Christian Horner—stay as close as possible to Max Verstappen. The 24-year-old Japanese driver, who recently replaced Liam Lawson, is set for his first race alongside the four-time world champion at Suzuka.
Tsunoda was announced as Liam Lawson’s replacement last week after the New Zealander was dropped just two races into the season.
This weekend, he will partner Verstappen for the first time, competing in front of his home crowd at Suzuka. Red Bull, currently third in the constructors’ standings after two races, has tasked Tsunoda with finishing as near as possible to Verstappen to strengthen the team’s position.
Verstappen currently sits second in the drivers' championship, trailing McLaren’s Lando Norris by eight points.
"Tsunoda explained that Red Bull Racing’s main focus is securing a championship for Max. While the team has faced some challenges, Verstappen has proven his ability to be a world champion," he stated.
Tsunoda also shared that Horner expects him to match Verstappen’s pace as closely as possible. While he may play a strategic role in some races, Horner assured him that if he finds himself ahead of Verstappen in certain situations, he won’t necessarily be asked to give up his position.
Lawson, who had been promoted to Red Bull’s main team for the 2025 season, was reassigned to Racing Bulls after disappointing performances in the Australian and Chinese Grands Prix. The New Zealander struggled in Melbourne, qualifying 18th before crashing out of the race, and had a difficult weekend in China, qualifying last for both the sprint and the main event before finishing 14th and 12th, respectively.
Verstappen appeared to express disagreement with Lawson’s demotion by ‘liking’ an Instagram post from former F1 driver Giedo van der Garde, who described the decision as a "panic move."
Tsunoda, who had been part of Red Bull’s second team since his F1 debut in 2021, revealed he has yet to speak to Verstappen since stepping into Lawson’s seat.
"I mentioned it a while ago, but he’s quite different in how he acts inside and outside the car," Tsunoda remarked. "I’m not too concerned about our relationship on or off the track. I know what I want to do, and I have a good idea of how he thinks and drives."
As he prepares for his home grand prix on Sunday, Tsunoda remains realistic about his expectations, stating that securing a top-10 finish would be a satisfying result.
"Of course, I’d love to say I’m aiming for points, a podium, or something bigger," he said. "But considering the challenge of adapting to a new car with limited sessions, it won’t be easy. For now, if I can score points and finish in the top 10, I’ll be happy."
A drone strike hit a power station in northern Sudan early Sunday (1 November), sparking a fire and triggering loud explosions, witnesses said....
Saudi Aramco's acquisition of a 49 per cent stake in artificial intelligence (AI) company HUMAIN is putting a spotlight on a wider investment q...
Gen Z protests swept 34 German cities on Saturday (31 October) over education, living costs and military service proposals. Violence erupted in Fra...
The U.S. has approved the sale of 500 Patriot PAC-3 missiles to Ukraine in a deal worth an estimated $2.1 billion, but Kyiv could face years of delays before receiving the weapons it urgently needs to defend against intensifying Russian attacks.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has ordered Iran's armed forces to respond to any threat immediately and without geographical limits in statements posted to social media platforms on Saturday (31 October).
Demonstrators carrying Iranian flags and placards supporting the hijab gathered outside the Azerbaijani Embassy in London.
A Chinese-made AI chip has matched Nvidia’s H200 in tests conducted by its developer, marking a potential breakthrough in China’s efforts to reduce its dependence on foreign technology.
A hacking group linked to North Korea is widely believed to be behind the theft of $6.3 billion from cryptocurrency giant Binance, a cyberattack that experts describe as the largest cryptocurrency heist on record.
A drone strike hit a power station in northern Sudan early Sunday (1 November), sparking a fire and triggering loud explosions, witnesses said.
Gen Z protests swept 34 German cities on Saturday (31 October) over education, living costs and military service proposals. Violence erupted in Frankfurt, where shops were looted and police reported Molotov cocktail attacks.
Iran designated Britain's Royal Navy and Royal Air Force as terrorist organisations on Sunday, (1 November), and classified the country's foreign intelligence agency, MI6, as a hostile group, according to a statement from the Iranian Foreign Ministry.
Thousands protested in Albania's capital, Tirana, on Saturday (31 October), demanding Prime Minister Edi Rama's resignation over perceived corruption allegations and dissatisfaction with the government over a lack of jobs and poor education standards.
Russia has agreed to work with Ghana on developing a 2,000-megawatt nuclear power plant following talks at the Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow, Ghanaian Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said on Saturday.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment