Lawson details bizarre Tsunoda 'scare' tactic

Liam Lawson has opened up on his earliest experience racing Yuki Tsunoda and the “scare” tactics deployed by the Japanese driver that resulted in a crash.

The pair have long been associated with the Red Bull junior programme and are currently team-mates at the RB team.

New Zealander Lawson and Japanese driver Tsunoda spent the 2019 campaign racing each other in various championships as they looked to impress 

However, Lawson has claimed Tsunoda used to deploy an on-track tactic of ensuring his car was close to his own when passing by at high speed.

“When we used to race, Yuki used to do this thing - the first year that we were team-mates was 2019,” Lawson told the Red Flag podcast. 

“In FIA F3 we weren’t team-mates, [but] we did Euroformula Open at the same time, and we were team-mates in that.

“I got to know him pretty well. All year,  in a practice session or a qualifying session, whenever I was on a cool-down lap, Yuki would come past me, he would always insist on just getting as close to me as possible.

“I don't know if he was trying to scare me or what - he did this all year.”

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Tsunoda ignored Marko warnings

The situation took a more sinister turn in Macau towards the end of the year despite warnings from Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko.

“We went to Macau, it’s insane, really bumpy and borderline ‘can't believe they race there’,” explained Lawson.

“We both get phone calls from Helmut and he says, ‘Whatever you do, do not crash in the first session because you need the time on the track to build up for the qualifying. Don't crash!’

“The very first lap I go out, I complete it, I cool down and I see Yuki coming in the rearview. I'm like, trying to get out of his way, I’m up against a brick wall.

“And as he comes past me, he just clips my front wheel, goes flying and straight into the barrier. The gearbox is off the back, [he] destroys the car. He breaks my front suspension as well, so I’m out of the session.”

Lawson revealed he later met Tsunoda in an elevator where his suspicions were verified.

“I remember thinking ‘I know exactly what you did’," he added. "Nobody else knows. Everyone just thinks that we've had a clumsy little crash. But I know what he's done.

“I know that he's tried to get close, and he's obviously hit a f***ing bump because it’s Macau and he misjudged it.

“I saw him in the elevator that night. I remember the elevator doors opening the first time I saw him, and he's standing there, and I looked at him. He smiled at me, and I knew straight away that he knew exactly what he had done.”