Ex-F1 boss blames Red Bull for ignoring Yuki Tsunoda call

Former AlphaTauri boss Franz Tost has revealed he urged Red Bull to install Yuki Tsunoda alongside Max Verstappen for the 2025 season—advice the hierarchy ignored in favour of rookie Liam Lawson, only to reverse course weeks later.



The Missed Opportunity



Tost, who still consults for the organisation, recounted telling decision-makers: “Go with Yuki Tsunoda. He has the experience, he’s fast, he can do it.”



He labels the choice to elevate Lawson “a wrong decision,” pointing to Tsunoda’s superior speed and three-year knowledge of Red Bull powertrains.







Fallout and Reversal



Lawson’s brief tenure yielded no points and mounting pressure, prompting Red Bull to recall Tsunoda after just two races. The shuffle embarrassed management and intensified questions about long-term driver planning amid Sergio Perez’s exit.



Tsunoda’s Performance So Far



Since promotion, Tsunoda has scored modest points but remains adrift of Verstappen. Tost argues the Japanese driver needs aggressiveness on Sundays and deeper tyre-management understanding. He reminds critics that acclimatising to the RB21’s aero sensitivity takes time.



Realistic Expectations Against Verstappen



Tost cautions, “If you go there thinking you have to beat him, you’ve already lost.”




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He believes Tsunoda’s task is to approach, not eclipse, the Dutchman—mirroring Valtteri Bottas’s role beside Lewis Hamilton during Mercedes’ dominant era.



Lessons for Red Bull



The episode underscores risks of overlooking experienced midfielders in favour of marketing-friendly rookies. Red Bull’s reputation for ruthless driver swaps persists, but the Lawson experiment shows even talent factories can misjudge readiness.



What Comes Next



Tsunoda aims to close qualifying gaps below three tenths and perfect long-run aggression. Success would stabilise Red Bull’s line-up and vindicate Tost’s original advice—albeit twelve tense months late.
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