Yuki Tsunoda has officially been promoted to Red Bull’s top Formula 1 team, a move that came after Liam Lawson was demoted to Red Bull’s second team, Racing Bulls, following a scoreless start to the season.
Tsunoda now faces the challenge of performing at the highest level, joining a group of Japanese drivers who’ve experienced varying degrees of success in F1. His debut race for Red Bull will take place this Sunday in Japan, adding pressure as he races in front of his home crowd.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner’s advice to Tsunoda is clear: “Be as close as possible to Max [Verstappen],” he said. Tsunoda acknowledged the difficulty of not being chosen by Red Bull initially this season, but he appeared calm and focused about his unexpected promotion.
“I’m not saying I’m confident I can perform straight away like Max,” Tsunoda said. “But I’m confident I can deliver well compared to other drivers Red Bull might have picked.”
Meanwhile, Lawson took his demotion with a positive attitude, admitting he hadn’t expected it. “It’s not my decision, so for me, it’s about making the best of it,” he said. Lawson noted that his struggles in the first two races were partly due to unfamiliar circuits in Australia and China. He was hoping to prove himself in Japan, having raced there last season, though this time he’ll be with Racing Bulls instead of Red Bull.
“This is what I was looking forward to from the start,” Lawson said about returning to the Suzuka circuit. “It’s a track I’ve been to before, and I can prepare properly. It’s a track we all enjoy as drivers.”
Tsunoda, now in his fifth F1 season, needs to secure points for Red Bull. His best finish so far was fourth place in Abu Dhabi in 2021. While he’s been out of the points with Racing Bulls in the season’s first two races, he did manage a sixth-place finish in the sprint race in China.
For this weekend’s race, Red Bull’s car will feature a white livery as a tribute to Honda, which has powered Verstappen to four consecutive titles. This will be Red Bull’s final season with Honda before switching to Ford next year, while Honda will supply power to Aston Martin in 2026.
This is Tsunoda’s best opportunity yet, and his performance will be critical not just for the current season but for securing his place at Red Bull in the future.
A Japanese Has Never Won an F1 Race
Nearly 20 Japanese drivers have competed in Formula 1, but none have managed to win a race. Japanese drivers have reached the podium only three times in F1 history, with all appearances resulting in third-place finishes.
Aguri Suzuki was the first Japanese driver to secure a podium, finishing third at the 1990 Japanese Grand Prix.
Kamui Kobayashi achieved a third-place finish in the 2012 Japanese Grand Prix while racing for Sauber. He also holds the record for the most F1 points scored by a Japanese driver.
Takuma Sato earned his podium spot with a third-place finish at the 2004 U.S. Grand Prix. In addition to his F1 career, he is a two-time winner of the prestigious Indianapolis 500.
Season So Far
McLaren has claimed victory in the first two races of the season, with Lando Norris winning in Australia and Oscar Piastri taking the top spot in China. The field remains closely competitive.
Norris currently leads the driver standings with 44 points, followed by Max Verstappen with 36 points and Mercedes’ George Russell with 35. Piastri is just one point behind Russell, sitting at 34.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who joined Ferrari this season after leaving Mercedes, has accumulated only nine points so far. He finished 10th in Australia and was disqualified in China following post-race scrutineering. His best result to date is a victory in the sprint race in China.
Hamilton has secured five wins in Japan throughout his career, and his Ferrari team has committed to addressing the issues that led to his and teammate Charles Leclerc’s disqualification in China.