Tsunoda: 'Looking Forward to Fighting' Lawson

F1 | Australian GP |

Going back almost seven years, YUKI TSUNODA and LIAM LAWSON have been driving side-by-side in a variety of different racing categories.

By the time they arrived in Milton Keynes, living close to the Red Bull factory, they were becoming good friends. They’d hang out together in their down time, and the pair may or may not have raced around the renowned dual-carriageways and roundabouts that surround the Buckinghamshire city.

It was inevitable they’d be driving in Formula 1 at the same time, battling for position. But nobody could have predicted the pair would be flighting for the only available seat next to four-time World Champion, Max Verstappen.

Based on his performances leading up to the 2025 season, Liam became the winner of the Red Bull contract.

During the first race of the season in Australia, I chatted with Tsunoda about Lawson being signed to Red Bull above him, and if it had affected the friendship they’d built.

“First of all, I would say [I was} happy for him. He done definitely what he should do. He give his best. He gave 100% performance and I gave 100% performance, and in the end it was him, and it’s up to Red Bull on how they’re going to do it.

“It’s not necessarily a massive thing but it is what it is.

“In terms of friendship, we’re still friends for sure and we still chat with each other. I like to talk with him.”

Tsunoda considered his answer further and continued:

“Since 2020, before that actually, we had a lot of times where we are team mates and drive in the same categories, be a part of different categories we were racing at, and naturally less complications.

“Since then our friendship never really changed.

“Liam as a driver is enemy. Same as you can say for all the drivers.”

Tsunoda feels he has the advantage over Lawson because of how well he knows the Kiwi:

“We racing since 2019 it’s almost 7 years, 6 years and I know how he drives. How his characteristics of driving - how aggressive he is. I think I can use that as an advantage.

“[I’m] looking forward to fighting him.”

Controversially, since this conversation with Tsunoda, the pendulum of fate has swung in his favour, and he’s been offered his dream opportunity to drive the Red Bull, whilst Lawson slips back into the Racing Bulls seat; Something nobody in the paddock would have predicted after just two grands prix.

It isn’t wholly clear why the decision has been made. Could it be financial gains from Honda?
Or simply because Lawson hasn’t delivered in the first three races?

Many feel Lawson wasn’t given a fair crack at the whip, with driving on a wet and slippery track at Albert Park, followed by a Sprint weekend in Shanghai, that offered only one practice session.

It’s becoming quite apparent that the Red Bull car is tricky to drive for the team's second driver, because the set-up and any upgrades cater for Verstappen’s specific style of driving.

Will Tsunoda produce better results than Lawson? If he does, the decision to swap will be an easier pill to swallow.

However, if Tsunoda also struggles with the car, what will the team do next? Throw Isack Hadjar into the shark infested waters?

L.A.Wilshaw.

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