Dominic Tobin

3 weeks ago | motorsportmagazine.com | James Elson |Dominic Tobin |Gary Watkins

Three things stand out about Yuki Tsunoda: he’s clearly quick; he’s also funny, coining iconic team radio phrases such as “****ing traffic paradise”; and, finally, he’s now an F1 veteran. So much so in fact, that Red Bull’s new star will soon become Japan’s most experienced grand prix driver ever before we reach the halfway mark this season. Tsunoda will make his 90th start at his home race in Suzuka, with only Takuma Sato (also 90 starts) and Ukyo Katayama (95) ahead of him.

3 weeks ago | motorsportmagazine.com | Adam Cooper |Mark Hughes |Katy Fairman |Dominic Tobin

Having hosted 34 grands prix since its debut on the F1 calendar in 1987, the 5.807 km (3.608 mi) Suzuka circuit has welcomed some of the best talent motorsport has to offer. Set in an amusement park, Suzuka’s figure-of-eight layout is unique in Formula 1. Since first hosting the Japanese Grand Prix, it has been widely recognised as one of the sport’s finest circuits, with drivers like Carlos Sainz “officially” calling it his favourite track.

3 weeks ago | motorsportmagazine.com | Mark Hughes |Katy Fairman |Dominic Tobin

So far this season we are seeing another manifestation of how Max Verstappen is extracting lap time from a difficult car in a way which has proved impossible for a team-mate. But with this car it’s not quite the same as in the Gasly, Albon or Perez years when the Red Bull’s trickiness was in its super-responsive front end and how they struggled to keep control of the rear. This car, as Verstappen has several times explained, is quite well balanced but just slow.

3 weeks ago | motorsportmagazine.com | Dominic Tobin |Katy Fairman

Red Bull is back in the headlines after a rather brutal seat swap involving Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda. 23-year-old Lawson managed just two races alongside four-time World Champion Max Verstappen and, after two disappointing race weekends in Australia and China, has been demoted back down to Racing Bulls for the remainder of 2025.

4 weeks ago | motorsportmagazine.com | Mark Hughes |Dominic Tobin

Verstappen will now be able to see if his theory is right, with Lawson now due to compete for Racing Bulls in Japan. “It has been difficult to see Liam struggle with the RB21 at the first two races and, as a result, we have collectively taken the decision to make an early switch,” said team boss Christian Horner, announcing the news.