Suzuka, April 4, 2025 – by GP Thread
Franz Tost, the long-time former team principal of Racing Bulls, has voiced strong support for Yuki Tsunoda following the recent driver switch between the Japanese racer and Liam Lawson. The outspoken Austrian made it clear that, in his view, there was never any real competition between the two.
“Yuki is simply much faster than Lawson. Always has been,” Tost said in an interview with Austria’s ORF. “You could give Lawson a hundred years, and he’d still be slower than Yuki. It’s really a very simple decision.”
Lawson was promoted to Red Bull earlier this year as a replacement for the underperforming Sergio Pérez, but his stint was short-lived. After just two Grands Prix, Red Bull reversed course, moving Tsunoda up to the senior team for his long-awaited debut alongside Max Verstappen – starting with his home race in Suzuka.
Tost: “I Always Said Tsunoda Was the Faster Driver”
Franz Tost, who led the junior team from 2006 until the end of 2023 under its various identities (Toro Rosso, AlphaTauri, and now Racing Bulls), expressed surprise that Tsunoda wasn’t promoted sooner.
“I’ve said all along they should’ve gone with Yuki from the beginning,” he said. “Even last fall, I made that clear. He has incredible natural speed. He’s been one of the quickest drivers on the grid for years — he just needs to turn that speed into consistent race results.”
Tost admitted that Tsunoda’s emotional nature behind the wheel may have been a factor in Red Bull’s initial hesitation. “That might be why they went for Lawson at first. But if Yuki can stay calm and keep his emotions under control, this could be a very strong season for both him and the team.”
No Sympathy for Lawson
While Lawson had hoped to get one final opportunity at Suzuka – a circuit he knows well from his junior racing days – Tost was skeptical that even a strong home race would have saved his seat.
“Knowing the track is one thing. Being fast is another,” he said bluntly. “The decision to put Yuki in the car was absolutely the right one. Lawson is just too slow.”