Formula 1 has never been a sport where friendships come easy, and Yuki Tsunoda knows that better than anyone now.
The Japanese driver recently spoke about how his relationship with Liam Lawson has shifted after they swapped seats just two races into the 2025 season.
Tsunoda took over as Red Bull’s second driver, while Lawson was moved down to Racing Bulls following a tough start that saw him sitting 16th in the Driver’s Championship with no points.
Tsunoda admitted that their friendship isn’t quite what it used to be.
“We haven’t really talked yet, but we’ll probably see each other at events in Tokyo.
Hopefully, we don’t let this change things too much,” Tsunoda told BBC Sport.
“It’s only natural, though. When you’re fighting for a seat in F1, things get complicated. We used to be really close during our junior category days, but now it’s different.
I know he’s a funny guy, so I hope we can still keep things good between us.”
Stepping Into Red Bull’s Pressure Cooker
Replacing a driver at Red Bull is never just a routine switch—it’s a high-pressure transition with massive expectations.
Tsunoda has already had a taste of what’s expected from him in his new role, particularly from team principal Christian Horner.
“The first call I got was from Christian,” Tsunoda revealed. “He welcomed me to Red Bull Racing and talked about the team’s dynamic.
The main focus is clear—be as close to Max as possible.
The team is all about securing another Drivers’ Championship, and Max has already proven he can be the best even when Red Bull struggles.”
But there’s one promise that might make things interesting.
According to Tsunoda, Horner assured him that if he finds himself ahead of Verstappen in a race, there won’t necessarily be team orders forcing him to swap positions.
“Of course, beating Max right away won’t be easy. I still need to get used to the car. But I’m excited for the challenge.”
Red Bull’s Ruthless History with No. 2 Drivers
Tsunoda’s journey to a Red Bull seat hasn’t been a smooth one. Despite spending four full seasons with the team’s junior outfit, he was overlooked last summer in favor of Lawson.
Red Bull’s motorsport advisor, Helmut Marko, had been critical of Tsunoda’s consistency, saying, “Yuki has the speed, but he lacks continuity and stability.
When it works for him, it works very well.”
Now, in a twist of fate, Tsunoda has replaced the very driver who once took his dream seat.
Lawson, unfortunately, joins the long list of Red Bull’s second drivers who couldn’t hold onto the position. Only Sergio Perez in recent years has managed to stick around longer than expected.
Lawson’s Short-Lived Red Bull Career
For Lawson, this swap marks an unfortunate record—he now holds the title for the shortest stint a Red Bull driver has ever had in Formula 1, excluding drivers who lost their seats due to injury or illness.
His two-race tenure surpasses even Yuji Ide, who managed four starts for Super Aguri in 2006 before being dropped.
Despite the abrupt end to his time with Red Bull, Lawson remains grateful for the opportunity.
In a statement, he said, “Being a Red Bull Racing driver has been my dream since I was a kid.
It’s tough, but I’m grateful for everything that has brought me to this point. I’m ready to give my all at Racing Bulls.”
The Road Ahead for Tsunoda
With his long-awaited shot at Red Bull finally here, Tsunoda is stepping into a world of immense pressure, high expectations, and, of course, the shadow of Max Verstappen.
The question now is whether he can prove he belongs—and whether his old friendship with Lawson can survive the cutthroat nature of F1.
One thing is certain: the stakes have never been higher for Yuki Tsunoda.