Schumacher urges Tsunoda to reject Red Bull promotion
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Sky Germany commentator Ralf Schumacher has urged Yuki Tsunoda not to accept a swap with beleaguered Red Bull driver Liam Lawson, insisting such a move would be nothing short of career suicide.
The Japanese charger, currently excelling at Racings Bulls, has been touted as a potential replacement for Lawson, whose start to the 2025 season has been underwhelming, to say the least.
The idea of replacing the Kiwi – perhaps as early as next week's Japanese GP – is therefore being considered by Red Bull's top brass.
But Schumacher, speaking with the conviction of a man who has seen the highs and lows of the sport, urged Tsunoda to resist the siren call of Red Bull Racing and stay put with Racing Bulls, where he's been thriving.
Schumacher's Dire Warning
"That's not quite confirmed yet, but that's probably the way it is," Schumacher remarked on the swirling rumors of Tsunoda's promotion. "And that has to be said, is unbelievable.
"Above all, incredibly bad from a management point of view. I don't understand that at all."
His concern lies not only with Tsunoda's potential promotion but also with the destabilization of Racing Bulls, a team that has finally found stability and competitiveness this season.
Schumacher believes Red Bull's tendency to ruthlessly shuffle its drivers is creating unnecessary chaos, and Tsunoda would suffer as a result.
"You destabilize the good Racing Bulls team, who are finally in a good position with both drivers, and in my opinion, you will burn Tsunoda, who is better, but who also has no chance against Max," Schumacher added.
A No-Win Situation for Tsunoda
Schumacher's main argument against Tsunoda's promotion is simple: he believes Tsunoda would be set up for failure.
Even though the Japanese driver has shown significant improvement, stepping into the high-pressure Red Bull environment alongside Verstappen could be overwhelming.
Schumacher insists that staying at Racing Bulls would be a far better option for Tsunoda's long-term career.
"And Lawson then goes back to the Racing Bulls, he should build up there again," he added. "It's kind of pure chaos at Red Bull.
"So not only that the main team is too slow, but that they also swap the drivers like a charade. I think that's unbelievable," Schumacher continued, highlighting the instability Red Bull's decision-making creates.
Advice to Tsunoda's Management: Stay Away
With the uncertainty surrounding Red Bull's driver lineup, Schumacher had a clear message for Tsunoda's manager: steer clear of the chaos.
"If I was Tsunoda's manager, I wouldn't recommend him to go there," he said. "At the moment, Racing Bulls is the better car and Tsunoda is getting on really well with it. He can't do himself any favours with it [a promotion]."
Despite Schumacher's stark warnings, Tsunoda himself has expressed confidence in his ability to step up.
The Japanese driver recently stated that he was "100%" ready to race for Red Bull, even as soon as the next Grand Prix in Japan.
Meanwhile, Red Bull CEO and team principal Christian Horner remained non-committal when asked about the potential swap, merely stating: "There's always going to be speculation in the paddock. We've only just finished the race here. We'll take away the info and have a good look at it."
With the decision looming, Tsunoda faces a critical career choice—embrace the allure of Red Bull Racing or heed Schumacher's warning and continue building his career at Racing Bulls.
Time will tell whether the young Japanese star chooses stability or risks it all in the high-stakes world of Formula 1's most ruthless team.
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