Can Yuki Keep Up?

Dear F1 Fans,

If there’s one team in Formula 1 that rarely sits still, it’s Red Bull Racing. The 2025 season is only just underway, yet it has already seen a dramatic driver shuffle: Liam Lawson’s short-lived stint as Max Verstappen’s teammate has ended, and Yuki Tsunoda is now set to take on one of the toughest challenges in the sport—driving a car tailored to Verstappen’s style and pace.

LAWSON IS OUT. YUKI IS IN

Verstappen’s Ever-Changing Teammates

Max Verstappen’s rise to the top of Formula 1 has been meteoric. From his teenage debut to his multiple titles at Red Bull, the Dutchman has proven all but unbeatable. Yet a key factor often goes underappreciated: Red Bull heavily engineers its car around Verstappen’s unique driving style. It’s a deliberate choice that maximizes the team’s championship potential—but leaves everyone else scrambling to adapt. Here’s a look at Verstappen’s notable teammates who have tried to master the Red Bull challenge:

• Daniel Ricciardo (2016–2018): Verstappen’s first teammate at Red Bull after the team’s surprise mid-season promotion of the 18-year-old. Ricciardo held his own against the Dutch prodigy, making their partnership one of the most fiercely competitive in recent years. Ultimately, Ricciardo departed in 2019, seeking a fresh start elsewhere.

• Pierre Gasly (2019): Despite high expectations, Gasly struggled to match Verstappen. He was unable to adapt quickly to a car built around Max’s aggressive inputs, leading to an early demotion back to Toro Rosso.

• Alex Albon (2019–2020): Stepping in for Gasly, Albon showed flashes of brilliance but couldn’t consistently extract the same performance from the Verstappen-centric setup.

• Sergio Perez (2021–2024): Known for his tire management and racecraft, Perez initially thrived alongside Verstappen, helping clinch Constructors’ Championships. But performance dipped in his final year, prompting Red Bull to look for a shake-up.

• Liam Lawson (2025): A prodigious talent who impressed in the junior series, Lawson found the Red Bull machinery daunting. After two races marred by a crash and poor qualifying, Red Bull swiftly reassigned him to Racing Bulls (formerly Toro Rosso) for further development.

Now, Yuki Tsunoda steps into the fray.

The Car Built for Max

The central storyline behind Red Bull’s driver rotation is the car’s design ethos. Team engineers have long zeroed in on Verstappen’s feedback—his preference for an ultra-responsive front end, his rapid corner-entry style—making the RB a rocket in Max’s hands but a handful for anyone else.

• Immediate Mastery Required: Teammates must quickly learn to handle a car that is often oversteering, twitchy, and demands lightning-fast reflexes.

• No Room for Error: Red Bull’s data-driven approach means any sign of persistent struggle can lead to the exit door—fast.

Why Tsunoda Now?

1. Strong Start at AlphaTauri: Tsunoda’s initial F1 seasons were marked by raw speed, but also unpredictability. Over time, he’s addressed these inconsistencies, earning praise for improved racecraft.

2. Lawson’s Departure: The young New Zealander faced a tough start at Red Bull, highlighting how unforgiving the team can be if results don’t materialize instantly.

3. Ready for the Pressure: Tsunoda’s growth suggests he can handle the intense environment at Red Bull—and he’ll need every ounce of that resilience when paired with Verstappen.

Looking Ahead to Suzuka

Tsunoda’s first race alongside Verstappen at the Japanese Grand Prix is the stuff dreams are made of—a home crowd, a legendary circuit, and a real shot to prove his mettle. But the stakes are sky-high. Delivering a strong result in front of the passionate Japanese fans could signal he’s the right choice, while any faltering might open the door for yet another lineup reshuffle.

— F1 Insider