Yuki Tsunoda's big break in Formula 1 looked to have slipped away. Red Bull never quite believed. Honda's support had seemingly started to drift. Now, though, with a Red Bull debut at his home of Suzuka on the horizon,

Yuki Tsunoda says Red Bull team principal Christian Horner told him to be prepared in case of a promotion before his seat swap with Liam Lawson was confirmed, Red Bull opted to replace Lawson after just two races of the 2025 season,

But Verstappen did indicate his position by admitting that his liking of an Instagram post by ex-F1 driver Giedo van der Garde, who wrote that Red Bull’s decision was “closer to bullying or a panic move,” was not a mistake or an accident. “I liked the text,” Verstappen said. “I guess that speaks for itself, right?”