FIA Steward hits out at Red Bull for snubbing ‘feisty’ Yuki Tsunoda for Liam Lawson

Johnny Herbert berated Red Bull's final decision to snub Yuki Tsunoda and choose Liam Lawson for a promotion to the main team.

FIA Steward hits out at Red Bull for snubbing ‘feisty’ Yuki Tsunoda for Liam Lawson

Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda (via IMAGO)

Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson were the front runners for replacing Sergio Perez at Red Bull due to the latter’s woeful form. Despite Tsunoda outperforming Lawson on all occasions, Milton Keynes decided to promote the rookie. As a result, FIA steward Johnny Herbert expressed his disappointment with the team’s final decision to promote the Kiwi.

Yuki Tsunoda had previously declared that it would be ‘weird’ if Red Bull were to promote Liam Lawson. However, as recent events depicted, Lawson moved up the chain at Red Bull while Tsunoda has to continue with RB. Johny Herbert reckoned that the Japanese driver impressed him the most in Formula 1. Herbert particularly liked the 24-year-old’s ‘feistiness’ while racing around the circuits.

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The one who has impressed me the most is Yuki. I like his feistiness; he’s not afraid to shout.

Johnny Herbert told racingnews365.

Moreover, Tsunoda beat Lawson with a clean score of 6-0 in all the qualifying sessions the latter participated in. Hence, Johny Herbert liked the Japanese’s performance in qualifying with him showcasing his ‘strong head’. Additionally, the 24-year-old didn’t hesitate to say the blunt truth about his teammates or the team while racing.

I like his qualifying, where he has the edge is his strong head. He is not scared to say things either about his team or the other drivers around him. You need that type of mentality to go up against the best.

Johnny Herbert added.

Johnny Herbert unsure about Yuki Tsunoda’s chances against Max Verstappen

The secondary driver at Red Bull would have the biggest task of going up against Max Verstappen in the team. Johnny Herbert raised uncertainty about Tsunoda’s winning chances against the Dutchman. However, the steward reckoned that the competition would be a close one between the two. Herbert believed that such performances were what Red Bull needed to return back to their winning ways.

Yuki Tsunoda and Max Verstappen (via Racingnews365)
Yuki Tsunoda and Max Verstappen (via Racingnews365)

Would he beat Max? I am not sure but I think it would be close. That is what Red Bull needs.

Johnny Herbert noted.

Red Bull has multiple issues to work over before the commencement of the 2025 season. Tsunoda will have to race with RB despite showcasing promising results over the season. Regardless, the Japanese driver has to put his head in the game and continue to aim at a move up the chain if Lawson fails to deliver results.