“Now the pressure is on Yuki Tsunoda”: Red Bull expects a great result already in Japan. Yuki Tsunoda under pressure in Japan: the Lawson legacy and Red Bull’s expectations.

With the switch between Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda, the focus of Helmut Marko (and others) is now on the Japanese driver, who is expected to prove his worth within the Red Bull team as early as the Japanese GP. The decision came after just two difficult races for Lawson, and now all eyes are on Yuki Tsunoda.

Helmut Marko’s expectations for Yuki Tsunoda
Helmut Marko highlighted the progress Tsunoda has made over the winter: “Yuki has taken further steps forward. As a driver, he is more solid, physically he has improved, and his last two races were really very good.”

Red Bull expects Tsunoda to contribute significantly from a strategic standpoint as well: “We need two drivers for the constructors’ championship; having a second car allows us to exploit more opportunities. Now the pressure is on him—he has to deliver results,” Marko told ServusTV.

An opportunity worth 10 million
His debut in the Red Bull car will take place in a special setting: the Japanese Grand Prix, Yuki Tsunoda’s home race—but not only his. It is no secret that Honda pushed hard, investing millions, to secure Tsunoda’s promotion just ahead of the final home GP for the Japanese engine manufacturer with Red Bull.

Ahead of the event, Tsunoda completed two intensive days in Red Bull’s simulator: “He achieved excellent results and provided valuable technical insights.”

Suzuka is one of the most complex tracks on the calendar, but the Japanese driver has known it well since his junior category days. “We see that as an advantage,” Marko explained.

The moment of truth for Yuki Tsunoda
Helmut Marko also acknowledged the character development of the young driver: “Yuki has a personality of his own. In the past, he was criticized for being too impulsive, but now he is more mature. It’s fantastic, also for Japan, that he can drive a top car.”

Fortunately, the Japanese weekend will follow the standard format, with three free practice sessions giving Yuki Tsunoda enough time to get accustomed to the highly complex RB21: “He has the opportunity to prepare well. Simulators are so precise that they are within one or two tenths of real-life performance.”

“Our car this year is not yet fully competitive and is also very difficult to drive,” Helmut Marko concluded, but Yuki Tsunoda will still have to prove he is worthy of the Red Bull seat.