In a twist of events, Red Bull chose Liam Lawson over the experienced Yuki Tsunoda, disregarding Franz Tost’s advice.
- Franz Tost, former AlphaTauri team principal, advised Red Bull to promote Yuki Tsunoda for his experience, but was ignored.
- Despite his experience, Yuki Tsunoda was initially bypassed, with Lawson lasting only two races before being replaced.
- Franz Tost believes choosing Liam Lawson was a mistake and that Tsunoda should have been the initial choice.
- Yuki Tsunoda is now proving himself, though he has challenges to overcome to match Max Verstappen’s pace.
When faced with the decision of selecting a driver to partner with Max Verstappen, Red Bull turned heads by opting for Liam Lawson over the seasoned Yuki Tsunoda. This decision left many questioning the rationale behind overlooking Tsunoda, who was backed by Franz Tost for his experience and speed.
Franz Tost revealed that he urged Red Bull to go with Tsunoda, citing his experience as a significant factor. “I said: ‘Go with Yuki Tsunoda,'” Tost mentioned, highlighting Tsunoda’s capabilities. Despite this, Red Bull selected Lawson, which resulted in a short and unremarkable stint for the New Zealander.
Lawson’s performance did not meet expectations, and he was quickly replaced. Tost believes the team made the wrong decision, emphasizing that Tsunoda is faster and more experienced, leaving no room for debate in his perspective.
Currently holding the Red Bull seat, Tsunoda has shown improvements by scoring points, although he still lags behind the pace set by Verstappen. Tost points out that Tsunoda needs to be more aggressive during races and become more familiar with the car’s intricacies, particularly in tire management, which is crucial in the competitive F1 environment.
Franz Tost continues to keep in touch with Tsunoda, noting that Tsunoda can learn a lot from Verstappen’s impressive performances. Tost advises that Tsunoda should focus on getting as close to Verstappen as possible, acknowledging that Verstappen is currently unparalleled in speed.
While Yuki Tsunoda is now seizing his opportunity at Red Bull, questions remain about the initial decision to choose Liam Lawson.
