Yuki Tsunoda could follow in the footsteps of some all-time Formula 1 greats if he replaces Liam Lawson at Red Bull mid-season.
It has been far from an ideal start for Lawson, who joined Max Verstappen at Red Bull for the 2025 season after two short stints with the organisation's junior team in 2023 and 2024.
The Kiwi is yet to score a point in 2025, and qualified in last position for both the sprint and the grand prix in China last weekend.
Advert
Lawson's form has meant both Isack Hadjar and Yuki Tsunoda have out-qualified him, in every session so far this season.
Despite this Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has defended the 22-year-old by claiming the Racing Bulls car is 'easier to drive'.
Horner's decision to sign Lawson ahead of Tsuonda over the winter was a shock to many considering the Japanese driver's performances in the junior team since 2021.
Advert
However, reports now claim Lawson is set to lose his seat to Tsunoda for the Japanese Grand Prix, giving the 24-year-old a chance to follow in the footsteps of some of the greats.
How Tsunoda can replicate the great World Champions
Mid-season driver changes aren't particularly frequent in F1 and provide a unique challenge for drivers, as they are forced to get up to speed with their new equipment with zero testing.
If a mid-season swap goes wrong it can completely destroy a driver's career, however, there is no risk without reward and some of the sport's biggest stars burst onto the scene thanks to taking a mid-season opportunity.
Advert
Tsunoda will be hoping he can replicate what Max Verstappen and Michael Schumacher achieved when they were thrown into the deep end, with the trio winning 11 titles between them.
Tsunoda's potential future teammate Verstappen, made the same step up from Red Bull's junior team when he replaced Daniel Kvyat after just four races of the 2016 season.
Verstappen went on to win on his debut in Barcelona after the two Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg crashed on lap one becoming the youngest ever F1 winner at just 18 years old.
Advert
With Tsunoda having 89 Grand Prix starts compared to Verstappen's 24 at the time of the move, he will certainly hope that extra experience will help him make a quick start if he is to replace Lawson.
However, 24 races of experience would have likely made it unfair on everyone else when it comes to Michael Schumacher's mid-season introduction.
Following Jordan's Bertrand Gachot receiving a prison sentence, Eddie Jordan was forced to book an F1 test for a young German sports car driver just days before the 1991 Belgian Grand Prix.
Schumacher's 7th-placed finish on debut was so impressive it caught the eye of Benetton, who signed the youngster with immediate effect. The rest is history.
Topics: Max Verstappen, Michael Schumacher, Formula 1
Tom Jenkins