Christian Horner sets ‘rules of engagement’ between Yuki Tsunoda and Max Verstappen
Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images for Oracle Red Bull Racing Red Bull has made things clear between Yuki Tsunoda and Max Verstappen at the Japanese Grand Prix After just two races, Red Bull decided to make a change. Liam Lawson, tapped by the team to replace Sergio Pérez, was out and Yuki Tsunoda, passed over initially by the team to replace Pérez, was in. That move sparked a debate throughout the Formula 1 world regarding how Red Bull continues to handle their second driver. Speaking with the media ahead of this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix, Tsunoda confirmed that the “main priority” is Verstappen, and his target is to be as close to the defending Drivers’ champion as possible. After a first practice session that saw Tsunoda a little over a tenth behind Verstappen — with the sixth-fastest lap of the session behind the fifth-fastest posted by Verstappen — Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner confirmed the “rules of engagement” between the two drivers. “Our rules of engagement are very clear,” Horner said to Sky Sports F1. “Max is the lead driver and Yuki’s job is to support him as best as he can to retain that Drivers’ Championship.” Horner noted that Tsunoda’s FP1 session was “exactly” what the team was looking for. “The performance that he’s just put in that last session is exactly where we want him to be, to be up there able to support Max.” The Red Bull boss then made the case that the approach the team is taking gives them an advantage over their rivals, at least when it comes to the Drivers’ Championship. “Our advantage is that we’re very clear in that strategy. Of course McLaren have got two drivers fighting for a championship, they’ll be taking points theoretically off each other,” said Horner. “Ferrari the same, so in a very tight battle, sometimes you’ve got to back your horse.” Horner then addressed another talking point in recent days: The idea that Red Bull’s cars are configured with Verstappen in mind. The Red Bull boss noted that the team needs to give a “calmer” car to their second driver. “I think we have to provide a different set-up,” added Horner. “Max’s ability to extract lap time from the car is unique and I think that we haven’t seen another driver able to do that in the way that Max is able to. “You need to give almost a calmer car to whoever is the partner driver to give a more settled and predictable feel,” he continued. “That’s not necessarily the quickest car, but it is definitely a more confidence-inspiring car for whichever driver.” Still, Tsunoda’s first outing with Red Bull sparked confidence in the team. “It was certainly a good start for Yuki, settling into the car pretty well,” Horner concluded. “Obviously it’s quite a different feel to what he’s used to, but I thought he settled in and he gave very good feedback and now both drivers are working away to improve the car for the next session.”
Red Bull has made things clear between Yuki Tsunoda and Max Verstappen at the Japanese Grand Prix
After just two races, Red Bull decided to make a change. Liam Lawson, tapped by the team to replace Sergio Pérez, was out and Yuki Tsunoda, passed over initially by the team to replace Pérez, was in.
That move sparked a debate throughout the Formula 1 world regarding how Red Bull continues to handle their second driver. Speaking with the media ahead of this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix, Tsunoda confirmed that the “main priority” is Verstappen, and his target is to be as close to the defending Drivers’ champion as possible.
After a first practice session that saw Tsunoda a little over a tenth behind Verstappen — with the sixth-fastest lap of the session behind the fifth-fastest posted by Verstappen — Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner confirmed the “rules of engagement” between the two drivers.
“Our rules of engagement are very clear,” Horner said to Sky Sports F1. “Max is the lead driver and Yuki’s job is to support him as best as he can to retain that Drivers’ Championship.”
Horner noted that Tsunoda’s FP1 session was “exactly” what the team was looking for.
“The performance that he’s just put in that last session is exactly where we want him to be, to be up there able to support Max.”
The Red Bull boss then made the case that the approach the team is taking gives them an advantage over their rivals, at least when it comes to the Drivers’ Championship.
“Our advantage is that we’re very clear in that strategy. Of course McLaren have got two drivers fighting for a championship, they’ll be taking points theoretically off each other,” said Horner. “Ferrari the same, so in a very tight battle, sometimes you’ve got to back your horse.”
Horner then addressed another talking point in recent days: The idea that Red Bull’s cars are configured with Verstappen in mind. The Red Bull boss noted that the team needs to give a “calmer” car to their second driver.
“I think we have to provide a different set-up,” added Horner. “Max’s ability to extract lap time from the car is unique and I think that we haven’t seen another driver able to do that in the way that Max is able to.
“You need to give almost a calmer car to whoever is the partner driver to give a more settled and predictable feel,” he continued. “That’s not necessarily the quickest car, but it is definitely a more confidence-inspiring car for whichever driver.”
Still, Tsunoda’s first outing with Red Bull sparked confidence in the team.
“It was certainly a good start for Yuki, settling into the car pretty well,” Horner concluded. “Obviously it’s quite a different feel to what he’s used to, but I thought he settled in and he gave very good feedback and now both drivers are working away to improve the car for the next session.”
