Yuki Tsunoda's true feelings on Liam Lawson revealed after Red Bull confirm Sergio Perez's replacement

Yuki Tsunoda's true feelings on Liam Lawson have already been revealed after the latter signed a contract to become Max Verstappen's team-mate at Red Bull for next season.

Red Bull announced on Wednesday that Sergio Perez would be leaving the team after four years, with Lawson's 'promotion' from the RB team confirmed on Thursday morning.

The New Zealander was chosen ahead of Tsunoda, who has considerably more F1 experience and outscored Lawson during their brief six-race stint as team-mates in 2024.

Red Bull reportedly believe that Lawson, who is two years younger than Tsunoda at 22, has a potentially higher ceiling, and team principal Christian Horner has claimed that it was 'very, very tight' in choosing between the pair.

Tsunoda will stay with RB for 2025, with the Japanese driver's new team-mate - his third in under a year - set to be confirmed shortly. Red Bull academy starlet Isack Hadjar - who finished second in F2 in 2024 - is expected to get the nod.

Speaking before the end of the 2024 season, Tsunoda claimed that he 'definitely deserved' a promotion up to Red Bull.

He told Motorsport.com: "I can't say more than that. It's up to them.

Yuki Tsunoda drove for Red Bull in the Abu Dhabi post-season test but missed out on a full-time seat (Image: Getty)

"There was a time that I started getting impatient, probably just before the summer break. But this thing, I can't control. It's just part of the life. I just have to keep doing what I'm doing."

But it is the Japanese driver's comments in July that perhaps best sum up how he feels about the situation.

Speaking at the Hungarian Grand Prix - six races before Lawson replaced Daniel Ricciardo as his team-mate at RB - Tsunoda told Sky Sports: "If they choose Liam [for the Red Bull seat], that would be weird. But I mean, for me at least... I don't think so.

"For sure, Liam did a really good job when he drove for the team, but I think I did more than that. We'll see how it goes."