Promotion of Red Bull Tsunoda defines his career F1

Suzuka, Japan – Yuki tsunodais a big break Formula 1 He seemed to slip away. Red Bull never believed. Honda support seemed to be carried away.

Now, with the debut of Red Bull in his house Suzuka on the horizon, his moment finally arrived.

Questions are strong and fast. Can deliver? Did it all come too late?

Turnover in the days of the Chinese Grand Prize – a Tsunod’s promotion from Racing Bulls at the expense Liam Lawson – There was nothing remarkable, even according to F1 standards. Tsunoda, which has been so long seemed to have been frustrated out of the reach of the popular Bull Racing Drive, has now been given and how it can handle the challenge, will determine his career trajectory from now on.

Measuring success as Max VerstappenTeam colleague is difficult, but the bar from the last four drivers who went beside him is low. The immediate task before him is simple: Tame Red Bull’s RB21. It is a car that seems to be like many of its predecessors: fast in talented hands as Verstappen, but an animal that struggles with mere mortals. He’s a confidence killer.

Before looking at the opportunity presented by Tsunod, it is worth considering some curiosities that have received him, Red Bull and Honda to this point.

Yuki u-turn

For the promotion of Tsunoda, it was the feeling that when Lawson did a disturbingly bad start, the 24 -year -old Japanese driver was now a fully polished product that Red Bull Racing wanted to be.

“Yuki Tsunoda is a quick driver, we know, but he had his rise and falls,” said Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko after the promotion was confirmed last week. “That’s why we thought Lawson was a better and stronger candidate, but Yuki had undergone a transformation. He changed his leadership and in this situation it was just the best choice.”

Many would say that Tsunod’s transformation was obvious much longer than the last weeks of 2025. Apparently not for Red Bull. Until recently, in December, society was openly considered to move from him completely.

“We are aware that if Yuki cannot provide Yuki this year this year, he gives (maintaining it),” team director Christian Horner asked at the end of 2024 at the end of 2024, shortly after the company decided for Lawson. “You can’t have a driver in the Support Team team for five years. You can’t always be a bridesmaid. You have to let them go or look at something else at that moment.”

Nobody at this event, at least of all Horner, would predict that Tsunod’s height from Bridesmaid to the bride would have in the third race of the following season. Rap at Tsunod was from Horner’s point of view that his temperament wasn’t there. It seems that this is no longer a problem in the space of a few short weeks.

How could Tsunoda be considered ready to be prepared four months ago, but now is it?

And then there is a role that Honda plays in all. Recent news He claimed that the Japanese automaker offered up to $ 10 million to secure the second seat of the Red Bull for Tsunod, but the sources said ESPN that the sweeteners presented were actually a discount on the company’s engine agreement – the Red Bull Agreement reluctantly paid for courses for breaking up in 2018 and Ferrari and Mercedes.

It is not an insignificant gesture from the manufacturer, but raises another question. Since Red Bull was involved in an expensive payout with Sergio Pérez last year – which sources said ESPN was more than $ 12 million – then it is even more bizarre that Tsunoda’s experience and financial assistance were not enough to convince Horner & Co.

There is also another wrinkle in Honda. His continued support for Tsunod has recently appeared uncertain, but made 180 even faster than Red Bull. A few weeks ago, Honda seemed to gently throw Tsunoda towards the east.

“He has to act himself,” said President Honda Racing Corporation Koji Watanabe Motorsport.com. “I want him to make the best decision for myself.

“There’s nothing more for him to do for him. He needs to strengthen his support team, including his manager, and secure the necessary chair. It is eventually a professional. Drivers can’t rely on Honda forever. Someone from Tsunod’s career level must think for themselves.”

Since Tsunoda cost Honda’s HQ a few weeks later, his first trip as a Red Bull Racing driver is remarkable to read these quotations now.

The key character seems to have changed here. Many were made of his new manager, a partnership with Mexican agent Diego Menchaca after division of roads with Mario Miyakawa and Luis Alvarez. Sources said ESPN that Tsunoda’s former team was considered an obstacle to his chances to move up.

It seems that his change in the proceedings came up with a change in approach and perception. It is difficult to quantify how much impact, which could actually have in a few months, but says it is a factor mentioned by Red Bull and Honda.

All on yuki

No matter how he got there, Tsunod now has the opportunity to break. The deck seemed to have been stacked against him from the beginning. RB21 looks like a handful for driving and Tsunoda is already on the back leg that missed testing and two racing weekends to acclimatize. Although it easily focuses on its dreamy domestic debut in Suzuce, in fact, it arrives on the eve of the three-day triple head-follows Japan races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. It could be difficult to get a slow start if he suffered from a spiral in trust in an unforgivable car.

However, the persistent uncertainty of Red Bull about the support of Tsunoda has always been difficult to understand. It is difficult to find out these rise and falls that Marko mentioned, especially in the last few seasons.

In Verstappen, Tsunoda is now in addition to a man known, fairly as a destroyer of teammates – but the Japanese driver can also claim it to some extent. The strong form of Tsunoda accelerated the demise of Nyck de Vries at the beginning of 2023. A true guy. Tsunoda also led well against Lawson, although Kiwi showed several impressive flashes that impressed Red Bull administration.

Promotion of Tsunoda is Red Bull, who corrected badly he did. Obviously he was he and Verstappen since the beginning of 2025. The Japanese driver spent in the junior team races Mammoth 89. pipes.

It seems that frustrated for anyone who wants Tsunod, it seems to have been dropped into a deep end.

ESPN sources have already proposed that Tsunoda is not considered a long -term repair with Red Bull; It is simply a better choice in here and now than Lawson, and it is more likely to be competitive if Red Bull can repair its lively car and get sniffing in the fight against designers’ mastery. This might seem like a long shot, but it seems Red Bull giving a decent amount of hope The upcoming prohibition of flexi wing will enter into force on the Spanish Grand Prix.

When it comes to setting expectations, Tsunoda must only be in a mix and bring good results for your teammate.

“In the end, Red Bull Racing focuses on Max (Verstappen) recording the drivers’ championship,” said Tsunoda BBC Radio 5 Live. “He turned out that he has a good potential to be a world champion – although Red Bull seems to be struggling a bit. The performance of the wise (Horner) wants me to be as close as possible to me. In some races, he can help me with the strategy, but he also promised me in some situations.”

Whether Red Bull really would actually do the latter is to be seen, but eventuality seems to be distant at the moment. Given how far Pace Pérez was last year, and the fact that Lawson was at the opposite end of timing in the first two weeks, it is not stretched to think that Red Bull would be satisfied with Middling’s results from Tsunoda soon – Q3 soon appeared – accompanied and points soon.

Now there are also wider considerations for Tsunod.

Previously, it looked as if he was looking at the possibilities elsewhere; Cadillac’s incoming team F1 is understood to admire his talent while last year Haas tried to get him before he turned to his attention Esteban ocon When it turned out that Tsunod’s bizarre agreement Red Bull meant he was actually stuck where he was. Most of them will understand if they fight early, but the risk that this step will come as it does is that it could destroy the perception that has so brilliantly cultivated in the junior team over the past few years. People in Paddock now know what a handful is that it is a Red Bull, but it would be a cruel twist if the shot that Tsunod had denied for so long has actually proved to be the one who destroyed the good will of which from Formula 1.

But this is the nature of sport. Previously, Tsunod had a fair complaint that Red Bull had never given him a chance to show what he could do. This argument no longer exists. He simply has to work for him. Evidence that other drivers have failed in Red Bull and succeed elsewhere exist Alex Albon and Pierre GaslyBut Tsunod’s altitude has been shaking what has already looked like a complicated and hard -to -understand career trajectory to this point.