Yuki Tsunoda eyes podium finish at Japanese GP following Red Bull promotion

Yuki Tsunoda aims for a podium finish at his home Japanese Grand Prix this weekend following his "unreal" elevation to the Red Bull team, replacing the dismissed Liam Lawson.

Tsunoda will compete alongside four-time world champion Max Verstappen after Red Bull decisively ended Lawson's tenure just two races into the F1 season due to his lackluster performance.

Tsunoda expressed that it feels "unreal" to be part of one of the leading teams on the grid and is determined to make a significant impression in front of the 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," the 24-year-old said at an event with Red Bull partner Honda in Tokyo on Sunday.

Tsunoda is advancing from Red Bull's junior team, Racing Bulls (RB), while Lawson is returning to RB, where he competed last season. He expressed surprise at being selected to race for the team in Japan, especially after Lawson was chosen over him when Sergio Perez of Mexico departed from Red Bull at the conclusion of the previous season.

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"It has all fallen into place and now I'm standing here, and that's thanks to the support of everyone," said Tsunoda.

Tsunoda has yet to secure a podium finish in his four complete seasons in Formula 1; however, he has demonstrated competitive speed during both race weekends this year.

He placed 12th in the season opener in Melbourne and missed out on scoring points in Shanghai due to a flawed two-stop pit strategy employed by Red Bull. Tsunoda has called on Japanese fans to support him at Suzuka as he makes his debut in the Red Bull Grand Prix.

"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."

Lawson was eliminated in the initial stage of all three qualifying sessions this season and has not yet earned any points. The New Zealander faced difficulties in managing the Red Bull; however, Tsunoda remarked that he "didn't find it to be a particularly difficult car to drive" after spending 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.

SportsLigue