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Christian Horner’s Doubts Over Yuki Tsunoda’s Red Bull Promotion Revealed
Ralf Schumacher has hinted that Red Bull’s team principal, Christian Horner, is not entirely convinced by Yuki Tsunoda, despite the Japanese driver’s recent promotion to the main team.
After several days of speculation, Red Bull officially announced on Thursday that Tsunoda would be stepping up to replace Liam Lawson, who will return to Racing Bulls. The decision follows a tough start to the season for Lawson, who took over the vacant seat left by Sergio Perez during the off-season but struggled to make an impact, failing to score points in his first two races.
However, according to former Formula 1 driver Schumacher, there are lingering concerns within Red Bull about whether Tsunoda will bring a significant improvement to the team.
“Red Bull would already be in decline if it weren’t for Max Verstappen, who somehow manages to rescue the team,” Schumacher stated in an interview with Sky Sports Germany.
He also pointed out internal disagreements regarding the team’s driver lineup, particularly between Horner and Red Bull’s motorsport advisor, Dr. Helmut Marko.
“There’s no consensus within the team when it comes to the drivers,” Schumacher added. “Dr. Marko was clear—he preferred to have two drivers from Red Bull’s own development program. That meant choosing between Lawson and Tsunoda. But neither of them is particularly favored by Horner.”
Red Bull currently trails McLaren by 42 points in the constructors’ championship, a significant gap that threatens their hopes of reclaiming the title. The team, which has dominated F1 in recent years, is now struggling to keep pace with the British outfit.
Concerns also extend to Max Verstappen’s title defense. The Dutchman has faced increased competition from McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, raising questions about whether he can hold onto his championship crown this season.
As Red Bull looks to turn their fortunes around, all eyes will be on the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix, where Tsunoda is set to make his debut for the team in front of his home crowd. The Suzuka Circuit will be a crucial venue for the 23-year-old, as he aims to prove his worth and silence any doubts surrounding his promotion.
Meanwhile, Lawson, despite being sidelined from the main Red Bull team, will aim to make a strong statement with Racing Bulls. Partnering with new teammate Isack Hadjar, the young New Zealander will be eager to deliver an impressive performance at Suzuka and keep his name in contention for future opportunities within Red Bull’s F1 setup.
With both Tsunoda and Lawson having much to prove, the next race could play a pivotal role in shaping their respective careers within the Red Bull organization.
