Stick close to Max Verstappen, Red Bull's new driver Tsunoda told

Red Bull's new Japanese driver, Yuki Tsunoda, says that he has been handed a pretty simple game plan to guide him as he begins his Formula 1 career: Stick as close to Max Verstappen as possible.

According to Tsunoda, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has made his messaging very easy ahead of his debut at his home Japanese Grand Prix that takes place this weekend.

The 24-year-old was announced as Liam Lawson's replacement last week in a shock move by the British-based Austrian racing team, which made the change by dropping the New Zealander just two races into the season.

Tsunoda partners four-time world champion Verstappen for the first time this weekend, when the Japanese driver races in front of a home crowd at Suzuka.

According to Tsunoda, his role is pretty much defined: Race as quick as possible and get behind or Infront of your teammate.

"The team is focused on pushing Max to another world title, he said. Max has proven himself to have good potential to be a world champion, even though Red Bull seems to be struggling a little now. Performance-wise he (Horner) wants me to be as close to Max as possible," he told the BBC's Radio Five.

"In some races, I can help with the strategy, but he also promised me in some situations that if I'm able to be in front of Max that he wouldn't necessarily ask me to swap positions and make Max win."

Lawson was promoted from Red Bull's second team for the 2025 season but has been sent back to Racing Bulls after struggling in the Australian and Chinese Grands Prix.

Red Bull were unsatisfied with the fact that he qualified 18th at the season-opening event in Melbourne and crashed out of the race.

In China, he qualified last for both the sprint and the main grand prix, finishing 14th and 12th, respectively.

The 2025 Japanese Grand Prix will be held at the usual Suzuka Racing track.

Official practice sessions will take place Friday, 4 April, with qualifying set for Saturday, 5 April, with the main race set for Sunday, 6 April 2025.