McLaren driver <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/lando-norris">Lando Norris</a> finished Friday evening&rsquo;s second practice session for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix fastest, with a crash for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/yuki-tsunoda">Yuki Tsunoda</a> bringing out the red flags in the closing stages.
Having just missed out on top spot in Free Practice 1, Drivers&rsquo; Championship leader Norris hovered towards the top of the times throughout FP2.
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Tsunoda claimed sixth but finished the session in the barrier at the final turn after the Red Bull driver clipped the wall on the inside, breaking his suspension which sent him into the barrier on the exit. The end of the red flag period left just over a minute remaining, with drivers scrambling out to take practice starts but not altering the order.
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"I just turned into a margin and clipped the wall inside the wheel," he said, explaining the incident that left his car damaged and him with no control. Despite the early exit, Tsunoda remained upbeat about the car's pace. He said, "Confidence level was pretty good... pace was looking good, so yeah, shame."
Meanwhile, it was a frustrating FP2 for Gabriel, who missed the session entirely due to a fuel leak. &ldquo;Definitely not ideal,&rdquo; he said, particularly given this is his first time tackling one of the fastest tracks on the calendar in an F1 car. Despite the setback, Gabriel maintained perspective. &ldquo;It happens... now I will listen to what Nico has to say and we move on.&rdquo;
<h2>'A bit of a messy one'</h2>
Mercedes driver George Russell described the session as &ldquo;a bit of a messy one,&rdquo; with fewer laps than anticipated and a step back in performance compared to FP1. However, some experimentation between him and teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli&nbsp;provided valuable insight. &ldquo;We tried some things... got a bit of a direction from that.&rdquo;&nbsp;
McLaren's Oscar Piastri had a relatively smooth Friday, carrying forward his strong form from Bahrain. &ldquo;It was a decent day,&rdquo; he said, adding that while a few corners still need refinement, he&rsquo;s &ldquo;feeling confident for tomorrow.&rdquo; McLaren looked quick throughout both sessions, and Piastri echoed the belief that there&rsquo;s still more to extract come qualifying.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/max-verstappen">Max Verstappen</a>, ever the perfectionist, wasn&rsquo;t fully satisfied despite ending FP2 in the top three. &ldquo;We tried some different things&hellip; learned a lot,&rdquo; he said. The long runs, however, were 'very tough', suggesting Red Bull still has homework to do overnight.&nbsp;
With McLaren once again looking sharp, Red Bull hunting for answers, and several drivers &mdash; both veterans and rookies &mdash; dealing with mixed fortunes, qualifying promises to be a tightly fought affair.
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Formula 1, Sports: Tsunoda had enjoyed a solid session up to that point, taking the sixth-fastest time, seven tenths behind session leader Lando Norris

McLaren driver Lando Norris finished Friday evening’s second practice session for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix fastest, with a crash for Yuki Tsunoda bringing out the red flags in the closing stages. Having just missed out on top spot in Free Practice 1, Drivers’ Championship leader Norris hovered towards the top of the times throughout FP2. Tsunoda claimed sixth but finished the session in the barrier at the final turn after the Red Bull driver clipped the wall on the inside, breaking his suspension which sent him into the barrier on the exit. The end of the red flag period left just over a minute remaining, with drivers scrambling out to take practice starts but not altering the order. Also Read: Exclusive | Leaping forward: 'My focus is on LA Olympics 2028', says India's long jump rising star Shaili Singh "I just turned into a margin and clipped the wall inside the wheel," he said, explaining the incident that left his car damaged and him with no control. Despite the early exit, Tsunoda remained upbeat about the car's pace. He said, "Confidence level was pretty good... pace was looking good, so yeah, shame." Meanwhile, it was a frustrating FP2 for Gabriel, who missed the session entirely due to a fuel leak. “Definitely not ideal,” he said, particularly given this is his first time tackling one of the fastest tracks on the calendar in an F1 car. Despite the setback, Gabriel maintained perspective. “It happens... now I will listen to what Nico has to say and we move on.” 'A bit of a messy one' Mercedes driver George Russell described the session as “a bit of a messy one,” with fewer laps than anticipated and a step back in performance compared to FP1. However, some experimentation between him and teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli provided valuable insight. “We tried some things... got a bit of a direction from that.” McLaren's Oscar Piastri had a relatively smooth Friday, carrying forward his strong form from Bahrain. “It was a decent day,” he said, adding that while a few corners still need refinement, he’s “feeling confident for tomorrow.” McLaren looked quick throughout both sessions, and Piastri echoed the belief that there’s still more to extract come qualifying. Max Verstappen, ever the perfectionist, wasn’t fully satisfied despite ending FP2 in the top three. “We tried some different things… learned a lot,” he said. The long runs, however, were 'very tough', suggesting Red Bull still has homework to do overnight. With McLaren once again looking sharp, Red Bull hunting for answers, and several drivers — both veterans and rookies — dealing with mixed fortunes, qualifying promises to be a tightly fought affair.

Formula 1: 'I just turned in too much', says Red Bulls driver Yuki after crashing out in FP2; Norris leads McLaren 1-2

Four-time world champion <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/max-verstappen">Max Verstappen</a> led from pole to chequered flag to win the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday, his first victory of the 2025 season, with McLaren's Lando Norris second.
The Dutch Red Bull driver crossed the finish line almost 1.5 seconds in front of Briton Norris, who held off his McLaren teammate <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/oscar-piastri">Oscar Piastri</a> of Australia in third.&nbsp;The win on a damp but drying track at Suzuka was Verstappen's fourth straight victory in Japan and closed the gap on Norris at the top of the drivers' championship to one point.
"It was tough. The McLarens were pushing me very hard," said Verstappen.&nbsp;"It was a lot of fun but not easy pushing the tyres. I am incredibly happy.
"Starting on pole made it possible to win."&nbsp;Ferrari's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/charles-leclerc">Charles Leclerc</a> finished fourth ahead of the Mercedes pair of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.
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Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton was seventh, with RB's Isack Hadjar next ahead of Williams' Alex Albon and Haas's Oliver Bearman.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/yuki-tsunoda">Yuki Tsunoda</a> finished 12th in his first race for Red Bull since replacing Liam Lawson, having started from 14th on the grid in his home grand prix. Lawson was 17th for RB.
Verstappen and Norris were involved in a flashpoint midway through the race as the two front-runners emerged from a pit stop.&nbsp;Norris drew up alongside Verstappen but the Dutchman refused to budge and Norris was forced onto the grass before sliding back onto the track.
<h2>'He drove himself onto the grass'</h2>
Norris said "he forced me off" but Verstappen told his team that he was not to blame.&nbsp;"He drove himself onto the grass," said Verstappen.
Stewards reviewed the incident and decided not to investigate further.&nbsp;Verstappen has struggled to get to grips with his Red Bull this season, finishing second in Australia and fourth in China.
But he pulled off a lap for the ages in qualifying in Suzuka, pipping Norris to claim his first pole of the season in a track-record time.&nbsp;Verstappen got away cleanly from Norris and Piastri at the first turn, with little change in the grid.
The Dutchman quickly established control by laying down the fastest lap and his lead grew over the early part of the race.&nbsp;Eighteen-year-old rookie Antonelli briefly took the lead while Verstappen and Norris were in the pits, to become Formula One's youngest-ever race leader.
Verstappen soon reclaimed the lead and his team gave him the green light to push until the end of the race.&nbsp;The two McLarens stayed on his tail, with Piastri telling his team "I have the pace to get Max" but Verstappen could not be caught.
Conditions at Suzuka had been dry all week, with a series of small trackside fires halting practice several times but rain early on Sunday removed any chance of a repeat in the race.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Formula 1, Sports: Max crossed the finish line almost 1.5 seconds in front of Briton Norris, who held off his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri of Australia in third

Four-time world champion Max Verstappen led from pole to chequered flag to win the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday, his first victory of the 2025 season, with McLaren's Lando Norris second. The Dutch Red Bull driver crossed the finish line almost 1.5 seconds in front of Briton Norris, who held off his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri of Australia in third. The win on a damp but drying track at Suzuka was Verstappen's fourth straight victory in Japan and closed the gap on Norris at the top of the drivers' championship to one point. "It was tough. The McLarens were pushing me very hard," said Verstappen. "It was a lot of fun but not easy pushing the tyres. I am incredibly happy. "Starting on pole made it possible to win." Ferrari's Charles Leclerc finished fourth ahead of the Mercedes pair of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli. Also Read: La Liga: Real Madrid suffer shock defeat to Valencia, Barcelona draws with Real Betis Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton was seventh, with RB's Isack Hadjar next ahead of Williams' Alex Albon and Haas's Oliver Bearman. Yuki Tsunoda finished 12th in his first race for Red Bull since replacing Liam Lawson, having started from 14th on the grid in his home grand prix. Lawson was 17th for RB. Verstappen and Norris were involved in a flashpoint midway through the race as the two front-runners emerged from a pit stop. Norris drew up alongside Verstappen but the Dutchman refused to budge and Norris was forced onto the grass before sliding back onto the track. 'He drove himself onto the grass' Norris said "he forced me off" but Verstappen told his team that he was not to blame. "He drove himself onto the grass," said Verstappen. Stewards reviewed the incident and decided not to investigate further. Verstappen has struggled to get to grips with his Red Bull this season, finishing second in Australia and fourth in China. But he pulled off a lap for the ages in qualifying in Suzuka, pipping Norris to claim his first pole of the season in a track-record time. Verstappen got away cleanly from Norris and Piastri at the first turn, with little change in the grid. The Dutchman quickly established control by laying down the fastest lap and his lead grew over the early part of the race. Eighteen-year-old rookie Antonelli briefly took the lead while Verstappen and Norris were in the pits, to become Formula One's youngest-ever race leader. Verstappen soon reclaimed the lead and his team gave him the green light to push until the end of the race. The two McLarens stayed on his tail, with Piastri telling his team "I have the pace to get Max" but Verstappen could not be caught. Conditions at Suzuka had been dry all week, with a series of small trackside fires halting practice several times but rain early on Sunday removed any chance of a repeat in the race. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen wins Japanese GP from Lando Norris

Liam Lawson has admitted he was 'shocked' to learn he would be replaced by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/yuki-tsunoda">Yuki Tsunoda</a> at Red Bull starting from the Japanese Grand Prix. Lawson, who secured a seat alongside <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/max-verstappen">Max Verstappen</a> following Sergio Perez&rsquo;s departure, was dropped after just two races into the new season due to underwhelming performances in Australia and China. He will now return to Red Bull&rsquo;s junior team, Racing Bulls, in a swap with Tsunoda.
"It was definitely a shock, honestly. It's not something that I saw coming. The discussions we were having didn&rsquo;t suggest this outcome, so it was completely unexpected," Lawson was quoted saying to Sky Sports.
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Lawson previously raced alongside Tsunoda in late 2024 when he stepped in for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/daniel-ricciardo" rel="dofollow">Daniel Ricciardo</a> at the then-named RB team. His performances earned him a promotion to Red Bull for 2025 as Verstappen&rsquo;s new teammate, following Perez&rsquo;s exit.
<h2>'This is not the end for Liam'</h2>
Red Bull team principal <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/christian-horner" rel="dofollow">Christian Horner</a> acknowledged the tough decision, admitting that the team may have placed too much pressure on Lawson too soon.&nbsp;"It's a horrible situation because you're taking away someone's dream, but sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind. This isn&rsquo;t the end for Liam," Horner was quoted saying to Sky Sports.
"We made the call after just two races, but we have to accept that we were expecting too much, too quickly. Now, he has the opportunity to further develop his talent with Racing Bulls, while Yuki gets the chance to showcase his experience," Horner added.
(With inputs from agencies)

Formula 1, Sports: Liam Lawson previously raced alongside Yuki Tsunoda in late 2024 when he stepped in for Daniel Ricciardo at the then-named Red Bull team

Liam Lawson has admitted he was 'shocked' to learn he would be replaced by Yuki Tsunoda at Red Bull starting from the Japanese Grand Prix. Lawson, who secured a seat alongside Max Verstappen following Sergio Perez’s departure, was dropped after just two races into the new season due to underwhelming performances in Australia and China. He will now return to Red Bull’s junior team, Racing Bulls, in a swap with Tsunoda. "It was definitely a shock, honestly. It's not something that I saw coming. The discussions we were having didn’t suggest this outcome, so it was completely unexpected," Lawson was quoted saying to Sky Sports. Also Read: A motorsport spectacle! Chennai gears up for Red Bull Moto Jam Lawson previously raced alongside Tsunoda in late 2024 when he stepped in for Daniel Ricciardo at the then-named RB team. His performances earned him a promotion to Red Bull for 2025 as Verstappen’s new teammate, following Perez’s exit. 'This is not the end for Liam' Red Bull team principal Christian Horner acknowledged the tough decision, admitting that the team may have placed too much pressure on Lawson too soon. "It's a horrible situation because you're taking away someone's dream, but sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind. This isn’t the end for Liam," Horner was quoted saying to Sky Sports. "We made the call after just two races, but we have to accept that we were expecting too much, too quickly. Now, he has the opportunity to further develop his talent with Racing Bulls, while Yuki gets the chance to showcase his experience," Horner added. (With inputs from agencies)

Formula 1: 'I did not see that coming', says shocked Liam Lawson after Red Bull demotion

Yuki Tsunoda stands just 1.59 metres (5ft 3in) but the racer who has joined Formula One world champion <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/max-verstappen">Max Verstappen</a> at Red Bull is a strong personality who has tried to tame his temper to get his big chance.
The 24-year-old will make his debut for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/red-bull">Red Bull</a> at his home Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka next weekend after the team ruthlessly axed underperforming <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/liam-lawson">Liam Lawson</a>.
Tsunoda was promoted Thursday from their junior team Racing Bulls (RB) after outshining the New Zealander in the first two race weekends of the season.&nbsp;
He swapped places with&nbsp;Lawson, 23, who returned to the team he was at last season.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/yuki-tsunoda">Tsunoda</a> has had to wait patiently for this moment, having made his Formula One season debut in 2021 as a baby-faced rookie renowned for having a short fuse.
"His progress last year, and more recently from the very start of 2025, has been nothing less than sensational," RB team principal Laurent Mekies said after Tsunoda's promotion to Red Bull was finally confirmed after days of speculation.
Tsunoda was 12th in the season opener at Melbourne and only finished out of the points on Sunday at Shanghai because of RB's flawed two-stop pit strategy.
In contrast&nbsp;Lawson, who had replaced Sergio Perez at Red Bull, has endured a miserable start to the season and life at one of the top teams on the grid.&nbsp;He was knocked out at the first stage of all three qualifying sessions and has yet to score a point.
<h2>Fast-tracked</h2>
Tsunoda started racing karts at the age of four in his native Kanagawa, just outside Tokyo.&nbsp;He has been backed by Honda since joining their junior driver's programme and making his debut in Japan's Formula Four championship in 2016.
He had stints in Formula Three and Euroformula Open championships before joining British team Carlin in Formula Two in 2020.
He was fast-tracked into the elite after spending just one season in Formula Two, where he impressed with three wins and seven podium finishes.&nbsp;In 2021, barely out of his teens, he suited up for AlphaTauri, which would later become RB.
He was the first Japanese driver to compete in Formula One since Kamui Kobayashi in 2014.&nbsp;Because of his diminutive frame, team engineers developed a made-to-measure pedal kit to make him more comfortable in the cockpit of his AT02 car.
<h2>'Shouting my head off'</h2>
Tsunoda's debut season was a roller coaster of glimpses of his potential against missed opportunities, mistakes and the odd spectacular shunt.&nbsp;He had a reputation for his four-letter outbursts on the team radio, admitting that he found it hard sometimes to keep his head in the heat of racing.
"I'm quick to get riled up and start shouting over the radio," he once said, admitting that when playing video games "I make a mistake or I lose and I start shouting my head off".
In August, he raised eyebrows in the paddock when he admitted to spending some downtime with friends "drinking a lot in Japan".
But, although he is yet to get on the podium in 89 grands prix, the likeable Tsunoda began learning how to keep his emotions in check and started delivering consistency on the track.
Tsunoda scored the bulk of RB's 46 points last season but&nbsp;Lawson&nbsp;was the one moved up to Red Bull because he was seen as having more potential in the longer term.
Tsunoda has said it is a balance between keeping his cool without losing his competitive instincts.&nbsp;"I have to force myself to calm down, but the emotional control is coming more naturally," Tsunoda said last year.&nbsp;"For sure I'm on the right path, but you can't just shut up all the time."
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience.

Formula 1, Sports: The 24-year-old will make his debut for Red Bull at his home Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka next weekend after the team ruthlessly axed Liam Lawson

Yuki Tsunoda stands just 1.59 metres (5ft 3in) but the racer who has joined Formula One world champion Max Verstappen at Red Bull is a strong personality who has tried to tame his temper to get his big chance. The 24-year-old will make his debut for Red Bull at his home Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka next weekend after the team ruthlessly axed underperforming Liam Lawson. Tsunoda was promoted Thursday from their junior team Racing Bulls (RB) after outshining the New Zealander in the first two race weekends of the season. He swapped places with Lawson, 23, who returned to the team he was at last season. Tsunoda has had to wait patiently for this moment, having made his Formula One season debut in 2021 as a baby-faced rookie renowned for having a short fuse. "His progress last year, and more recently from the very start of 2025, has been nothing less than sensational," RB team principal Laurent Mekies said after Tsunoda's promotion to Red Bull was finally confirmed after days of speculation. Tsunoda was 12th in the season opener at Melbourne and only finished out of the points on Sunday at Shanghai because of RB's flawed two-stop pit strategy. In contrast Lawson, who had replaced Sergio Perez at Red Bull, has endured a miserable start to the season and life at one of the top teams on the grid. He was knocked out at the first stage of all three qualifying sessions and has yet to score a point. Fast-tracked Tsunoda started racing karts at the age of four in his native Kanagawa, just outside Tokyo. He has been backed by Honda since joining their junior driver's programme and making his debut in Japan's Formula Four championship in 2016. He had stints in Formula Three and Euroformula Open championships before joining British team Carlin in Formula Two in 2020. He was fast-tracked into the elite after spending just one season in Formula Two, where he impressed with three wins and seven podium finishes. In 2021, barely out of his teens, he suited up for AlphaTauri, which would later become RB. He was the first Japanese driver to compete in Formula One since Kamui Kobayashi in 2014. Because of his diminutive frame, team engineers developed a made-to-measure pedal kit to make him more comfortable in the cockpit of his AT02 car. 'Shouting my head off' Tsunoda's debut season was a roller coaster of glimpses of his potential against missed opportunities, mistakes and the odd spectacular shunt. He had a reputation for his four-letter outbursts on the team radio, admitting that he found it hard sometimes to keep his head in the heat of racing. "I'm quick to get riled up and start shouting over the radio," he once said, admitting that when playing video games "I make a mistake or I lose and I start shouting my head off". In August, he raised eyebrows in the paddock when he admitted to spending some downtime with friends "drinking a lot in Japan". But, although he is yet to get on the podium in 89 grands prix, the likeable Tsunoda began learning how to keep his emotions in check and started delivering consistency on the track. Tsunoda scored the bulk of RB's 46 points last season but Lawson was the one moved up to Red Bull because he was seen as having more potential in the longer term. Tsunoda has said it is a balance between keeping his cool without losing his competitive instincts. "I have to force myself to calm down, but the emotional control is coming more naturally," Tsunoda said last year. "For sure I'm on the right path, but you can't just shut up all the time." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Formula 1: Yuki Tsunoda-Japanese racer with short fuse gets his big chance

In a major development ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, multiple reports suggest that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/red-bull">Red Bull</a> Racing has decided to replace Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda. The decision comes after Lawson's challenging start to the 2025 Formula 1 season.
According to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf and French broadcaster Canal+, the 24-year-old Tsunoda will be promoted from Red Bull's sister team RB to partner reigning world champion <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/max-verstappen">Max Verstappen</a> at Suzuka from April 4-6. Red Bull has not yet issued an official statement on the matter. However, sources say that they will be making an official announcement soon.
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New Zealander Lawson, 23, was brought in from RB during the winter to replace <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/sergio-perez">Sergio Perez</a>. However, his struggles in the opening rounds have put his seat in jeopardy. Lawson has been eliminated in the first stage of all three qualifying sessions and has yet to score a point this season. Meanwhile, his teammate Verstappen is currently second in the title race with 36 points, trailing McLaren&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/lando-norris">Lando Norris</a> by eight points.
<h2>Lawson struggles, Yuki flourishes</h2>
Tsunoda has showcased promising form in the early races of the season. He secured a 12th-place finish in Australia and was on course for a points finish in Shanghai before a flawed two-stop pit strategy by RB cost him the opportunity. Since making his Formula 1 debut with AlphaTauri in 2021, Tsunoda has established himself as a consistent and aggressive racer. He is also the first Japanese driver to compete in F1 since Kamui Kobayashi in 2014.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner&rsquo;s recent comments further fueled speculation about the change. Speaking after the Chinese Grand Prix, Horner admitted that Lawson has had a 'tough couple of races' and that the team would 'have a good look at it'. In contrast, he had more encouraging words for Tsunoda, praising him as an experienced driver who is 'doing a great job'.
With the Japanese Grand Prix fast approaching, all eyes are now on Red Bull for an official announcement.
(With inputs from agencies)

Formula 1, Sports: Lawson was brought in from RB during the winter to replace Sergio Perez. However, his struggles in the opening rounds have put his seat in jeopardy

In a major development ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, multiple reports suggest that Red Bull Racing has decided to replace Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda. The decision comes after Lawson's challenging start to the 2025 Formula 1 season. According to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf and French broadcaster Canal+, the 24-year-old Tsunoda will be promoted from Red Bull's sister team RB to partner reigning world champion Max Verstappen at Suzuka from April 4-6. Red Bull has not yet issued an official statement on the matter. However, sources say that they will be making an official announcement soon. Also Read: Amid divorce, former World champion boxer Saweety Boora physically assaults husband Deepak Hooda in police station-WATCH New Zealander Lawson, 23, was brought in from RB during the winter to replace Sergio Perez. However, his struggles in the opening rounds have put his seat in jeopardy. Lawson has been eliminated in the first stage of all three qualifying sessions and has yet to score a point this season. Meanwhile, his teammate Verstappen is currently second in the title race with 36 points, trailing McLaren’s Lando Norris by eight points. Lawson struggles, Yuki flourishes Tsunoda has showcased promising form in the early races of the season. He secured a 12th-place finish in Australia and was on course for a points finish in Shanghai before a flawed two-stop pit strategy by RB cost him the opportunity. Since making his Formula 1 debut with AlphaTauri in 2021, Tsunoda has established himself as a consistent and aggressive racer. He is also the first Japanese driver to compete in F1 since Kamui Kobayashi in 2014. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner’s recent comments further fueled speculation about the change. Speaking after the Chinese Grand Prix, Horner admitted that Lawson has had a 'tough couple of races' and that the team would 'have a good look at it'. In contrast, he had more encouraging words for Tsunoda, praising him as an experienced driver who is 'doing a great job'. With the Japanese Grand Prix fast approaching, all eyes are now on Red Bull for an official announcement. (With inputs from agencies)

F1: Red Bull to replace Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda ahead of Japanese Grand Prix? Reports suggest

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Formula 1: 'I just turned in too much', says Red Bulls driver Yuki after crashing out in FP2; Norris leads McLaren 1-2

Red Bull's Max Verstappen wins Japanese GP from Lando Norris

Formula 1: 'I did not see that coming', says shocked Liam Lawson after Red Bull demotion

Formula 1: Yuki Tsunoda-Japanese racer with short fuse gets his big chance

F1: Red Bull to replace Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda ahead of Japanese Grand Prix? Reports suggest