Suzuka, Japan – Yuki Tsunoda, the Japanese driver currently racing for Red Bull, recently revealed that team principal Christian Horner had hinted at a potential promotion before his official seat swap with Liam Lawson. Red Bull made the decision to replace Lawson after a disappointing start to the 2025 season, where he failed to advance past Q1 in two consecutive races and did not secure any points. Tsunoda was selected to step up to Lawson’s spot last week, with Horner informing him of the possibility prior to finalizing the move.
Tsunoda mentioned that Horner had advised him to keep the potential promotion to himself until it was made official. However, after the news was confirmed, he received messages of support from former Red Bull drivers, including Pierre Gasly and Checo Perez. Gasly offered insights on his experiences at Red Bull and shared ideas for upcoming races, while Perez also provided encouragement to Tsunoda, emphasizing the importance of the Red Bull family’s support.
Despite having missed a call from Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko, Tsunoda has received clear instructions from Horner on his role within the team. He expressed the main priority as being close to Max Verstappen, the team’s four-time world champion, in order to support the team’s race strategies. Tsunoda acknowledged the challenge of staying competitive with Verstappen but highlighted the importance of providing valuable feedback for the team’s development.
With his debut race for Red Bull scheduled to take place at his home grand prix in Suzuka, Tsunoda expressed excitement and anticipation for the opportunity. He emphasized the significance of the race occurring during the final year of the Honda partnership and stressed his eagerness to compete near the front of the grid. Tsunoda reflected on a successful simulator session and time spent in Tokyo preparing for the upcoming race, indicating a positive outlook for his future with Red Bull.