F1 boss issues heartfelt statement amid early Yuki Tsunoda de…read more
Yuki Tsunoda’s former team principal has expressed a heartfelt tribute to the Japanese driver following his recent promotion to Red Bull Racing. Tsunoda, who had been racing for the AlphaTauri team, is set to replace Liam Lawson at the prestigious Formula 1 team. This decision comes after a challenging start to the season for Lawson, who struggled to adjust to the car’s performance despite his initial confidence.
Lawson, who had stepped in for Sergio Perez during the off-season, failed to make a strong impact in the early races of 2025. After a disappointing DNF (Did Not Finish) in the opening race in Melbourne, his struggles continued at the Chinese Grand Prix, where his performance was far from competitive. These setbacks led Red Bull to make a tough decision, opting to promote Tsunoda in a bid to regain momentum.
Tsunoda had spent four seasons with AlphaTauri, amassing 96 championship points during his time with the team. His consistent progress over the years, particularly in the early part of the 2025 season, caught the attention of Red Bull. In an official statement shared on the AlphaTauri Instagram page, Laurent Mekies, team principal of AlphaTauri, congratulated Tsunoda on his well-deserved move to Red Bull Racing. Mekies expressed immense pride in Tsunoda’s growth, highlighting the driver’s “sensational” progress both last year and at the start of the 2025 season.
Mekies added that Tsunoda’s positive attitude and infectious energy had a significant impact on the team, saying, “Yuki’s energy and positivity has lightened up every corner of our factories and our garage.” He went on to call Tsunoda a “Racing Bull” forever, even as the Japanese driver heads in a new direction with Red Bull Racing. Mekies also wished Tsunoda all the success he deserves at his new team, expressing collective pride in the driver’s accomplishments.
Tsunoda’s promotion marks a critical moment in his F1 career, as he now takes on the challenge of scoring valuable points for Red Bull, a team that has been largely dependent on Max Verstappen’s performances in recent times. The team is currently 42 points behind the championship leaders, McLaren, and will need to improve rapidly to remain competitive in the title race. Tsunoda’s task is to deliver the results that will help Red Bull close the gap, as the team prepares for the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix.
As Tsunoda steps into a new chapter at Red Bull, the pressure is high, but with the backing of his previous team and a solid record of growth, expectations are elevated for his future successes at the elite level of Formula 1.
