Lawson stays focused after his Red Bull exit, while Tsunoda earns praise for stepping up as Racing Bulls sharpen their midfield strategy.
No one expected Lawson to finish last in qualifying for Red Bull. Laurent Mekies, director of the Racing Bulls team, was candid about the situation, admitting that Lawson wasn’t exactly “happy” upon hearing about his exit from Red Bull.
Since returning to the junior team after the Japanese Grand Prix weekend, Lawson has been focused on proving himself and embracing a key role within Racing Bulls. The team is confident that if they can help the New Zealander regain his self-assurance, he’ll quickly return to top form.
“I won’t say he was thrilled with the news last week—it was definitely hard to digest,” Mekies revealed from Suzuka on Friday. “But the very next day he joined us in Faenza for the car molding session, and soon after, he was back in the simulator. Now, here we are in Japan.”
Mekies emphasized Lawson’s positive attitude despite the setback:
“He understands he has an important role with us in the midfield battle. He knows there’s something to prove. We all recognize his talent, and it’s a matter of creating the right conditions for him to shine.”
Addressing Lawson’s unexpected struggles at Red Bull, Mekies added, “We were all surprised, of course. No one anticipated him finishing last on the grid for two consecutive races. It was a tough set of circumstances, and honestly, no one could have predicted it.”
He continued, “Despite these challenges, we’re confident that his talent is still there. We’re picking up right where we left off last year.”
When asked about Racing Bulls’ influence on Red Bull’s driver decisions, Mekies explained, “Our first goal is competitiveness. Our second is to develop young talents for the Red Bull family. Our mission is to finish the season—or even earlier in some cases—with one or two drivers who will, hopefully, catch the attention of our big brother.”
He elaborated, “Last season, we felt that this was the case for both Tsunoda and Hadjar, and we presented our findings to Christian [Horner], Helmut [Marko], and the entire Red Bull organization: two drivers capable of advancing within the team. Beyond that, the final decision was entirely in their hands.”
Regarding the choice of Yuki Tsunoda, Mekies expressed confidence:
“Yes, I’m sure he’s ready. We’ve discussed this many times, and we always stressed that Yuki made incredible progress last year compared to his previous seasons. We believed that if he could take a significant step in 2025, it would be at a very high level—and that’s exactly what he achieved. Kudos to him.”
Mekies concluded by highlighting Tsunoda’s resilience: “He received the disappointing news about not being promoted at the end of last season, went to Japan, and came back with a much stronger mindset. Once he was back in Faenza, he worked tirelessly. The right attitude and focus on every detail were unmistakable.”
This fresh perspective shows Lawson’s and Tsunoda’s determination, underscoring Racing Bulls’ commitment to nurturing talent and seizing opportunities for a successful future.
- Discover More>Red Bull: Tsunoda Hits the Ground Running Alongside Verstappen in Suzuka
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Tsunoda Rises as Lawson Fights to Reclaim His Spot
Tsunoda Rises as Lawson Fights to Reclaim His Spot
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