Yuki Tsunoda targets podium finish in Japan after ‘unreal’ Red Bull move

TOKYO – Yuki Tsunoda has targeted a podium finish at his home Japanese Grand Prix this weekend after his “unreal” promotion to the Red Bull team in place of the

axed Liam Lawson.

The 24-year-old will race alongside four-time world champion Max Verstappen after Red Bull ruthlessly pulled the plug on underperforming New Zealander Lawson last week, just two races into the Formula One season.

Tsunoda said it felt “unreal” to be driving for one of the top teams on the grid and set his sights on making an instant impact in front of his Japanese fans at Suzuka.

“I don’t want to raise expectations too much, but I want to finish on the podium at this Japanese Grand Prix,” he said at an event with Red Bull partner Honda in Tokyo on March 30.

Tsunoda steps up from Red Bull’s junior team Racing Bulls (RB), with Lawson moving back down to RB.

He added that he did not expect to be racing for the team in Japan, after being passed over for Lawson when Mexico’s Sergio Perez left Red Bull at the end of last season.

“This is the final year of Red Bull and Honda’s partnership, so getting to race in Suzuka as a Red Bull Racing driver feels like fate. Everything has fallen into place in just the right way for me to be standing here today, and that’s thanks to the support of everyone,” said Tsunoda.

Tsunoda has never finished on the podium in four full seasons in F1 but he has shown pace on both race weekends so far. He was 12th in the season opener at Melbourne and finished out of the points at Shanghai only because of RB’s flawed two-stop pit strategy.

Lawson was knocked out at the first stage of all three qualifying sessions (including one in the sprint format) this season and has yet to score a point.

He struggled to control the Red Bull, but Tsunoda said he “didn’t think it was that challenging a car to drive” after two days on a simulator.

“Everyone says the car is very responsive and I got that impression too, but it didn’t seem to act in a strange, tricky manner,” he said.

Tsunoda also urged Japanese fans to get behind him at Suzuka for his Red Bull debut.

“The thing that I’m looking forward to most is that there couldn’t be a more pressurised, challenging situation than this,” he said. “It’s also my debut, so with all these things added up I think it’s going to be an unbelievably exciting race.”

In other news, the Aston Martin brand will be in Formula One for decades to come, team owner Lawrence Stroll said on March 31 after the sports car maker announced the sale of its stake in the Silverstone-based outfit.

Aston Martin said it is raising more than £125 million (S$217 million) through funding from Stroll, its chairman, and the sale of its stake in the F1 team which is controlled by the Canadian.

“These moves demonstrate that Aston Martin’s place on the Formula One grid is as secure as ever,” the billionaire said.

“AML (Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings) recently re-committed to its long-term sponsorship and licensing agreement with AMF1, confirming that the legendary Aston Martin brand and its British racing green colours will compete in Formula One for decades to come.”

The racing team said Stroll had commissioned investment bank Raine Group to help find a buyer for Aston Martin’s stake.

“Raine will work closely with AMF1’s commercial chief Jeff Slack to secure a strategic investor who can add long-term value to the team and the brand,” they said.
AFP, REUTERS