appears to be like set to switch on the subsequent race in Japan – his residence race – in an enormous early-season change at .
Lawson, 23, is again all the way down to Racing Bulls after a torrid first two rounds of the season in Australia and China. An announcement is predicted later this week.
But for Tsunoda, who has been a driver for the junior group since 2021, it’s a dream situation for his residence grand prix in Suzuka, as he takes to the cockpit for a front-of-the-pack group for the primary time.
The function of ’s teammate has been a poisoned chalice in recent times, however Tsunoda’s type has improved within the final two years and he lately stated he “100%” backs himself to carry out in the primary group if given the chance.
However what do the stats say? The Unbiased takes a take a look at the numbers behind Tsunoda vs Lawson, within the battle for the Purple Bull second seat.
Up to now week, there was a fiery disagreement between Tsunoda and Lawson, who’ve raced one another all the way in which again to junior method.
Lawson, 23, has insisted , saying final week previous to his efficiency in China: “If I look again over our profession, I used to be team-mates with him in F3 and I beat him.
“In Euro Formulation, I used to be team-mates with him in New Zealand, and I beat him there. After which in F1 final season, I believe truthfully, if I take a look at all of the instances he obtained promoted as an alternative of me in these early years, then no.
TSUNODA VS LAWSON – 2023 (race outcomes)
Dutch GP – YT: fifteenth; LL: thirteenth
Italian GP – YT: DNS; LL eleventh
Singapore GP – YT: Ret; LL: ninth
Japan GP – YT: twelfth; LL: eleventh
Qatar GP – YT: fifteenth; LL: seventeenth
Tsunoda 1-4 Lawson
“He’s had his time. Now it’s my time.”
Tsunoda, nonetheless, had different concepts when requested concerning the prospect of a promotion for his residence race.
“Yeah, why not, all the time,” he stated.
“In Japan? Yeah, 100%. I imply, the automotive is quicker.”
However what do the stats say between these two, of their head-to-heads at AlphaTauri/RB?
Lawson did end above Tsunoda as he returned to the grid final yr, scoring two factors with a ninth-place end on the US Grand Prix, whereas Tsunoda completed 14th.
Nonetheless, Tsunoda completed greater than Lawson within the 4 remaining races the place each drivers took the chequered flag. Each drivers scored factors in Brazil, whereas Tsunoda completed within the top-10 in Las Vegas.
Following his points-scoring end in Sin Metropolis, Tsunoda acknowledged his keenness to step as much as the Purple Bull seat in 2025.
“What I can management is my efficiency, which I’m displaying this yr,” he stated.
“I belief myself and present my constant outcomes as a lot as doable. Hopefully they [Red Bull] change their thoughts. I’ll do as a lot as I can, I do know what I can do after I step into Purple Bull.”
TSUNODA VS LAWSON – 2024 (race outcomes)
United States GP – YT: 14th; LL: ninth
Mexican GP – YT: Ret; LL: sixteenth
Brazilian GP – YT: seventh; LL: ninth
Las Vegas GP – YT: ninth; LL: sixteenth
Qatar GP – YT: thirteenth; LL: 14th
Abu Dhabi GP – YT: twelfth; LL: seventeenth
Tsunoda 4-2 Lawson
In 2023, when Lawson stuffed in for an injured Daniel Ricciardo over 5 races, the Kiwi really completed above Tsunoda in all however one grand prix, additionally claiming factors with a memorable ninth place within the humidity of Singapore.
Whereas race outcomes are susceptible to an entire host of extenuating components although, a extra dependable head-to-head file is often qualifying outcomes, given the one-lap nature.
Tsunoda out-qualified Lawson 7-2 (together with sprints) when the New Zealander returned to the grid final yr. In 2023, for the 5 races Lawson stuffed in, it was 4-2 in Tsunoda’s favour.
In the meantime, this yr, Lawson in qualifying has been catastrophic.
On the first race in Melbourne, he certified 18th on the grid and, finally, began from the pit-lane on Sunday. Tsunoda, in the meantime, certified a terrific fifth on the grid.
Then final week in China, Lawson certified in twentieth in each the dash qualifying and the grand prix qualifying periods, and his exasperation with the automotive was clear.
But Tsunoda certified eighth for the dash and ninth for the grand prix, recording his solely factors of the 2025 season up to now with a sixth-place end within the dash – above the likes of Kimi Antonelli and Lando Norris.
In Melbourne, Lawson crashed out whereas Tsunoda completed simply outdoors the factors in twelfth. And whereas Lawson completed above Tsunoda in Shanghai, that was brought on by a failed Racing Bulls technique in addition to a broken front-wing for the Japanese driver.
Total then, the benefit on the timesheet lies with Tsunoda; maybe inevitably, given he has raced in 89 F1 races in comparison with simply 13 for his rival.
So whereas this choice is undoubtedly brutal, many see it as the choice Christian Horner ought to have made in December, when he determined to drop Sergio Perez.
