Liam Lawson hit with startling 'never in 100 years' Yuki Tsunoda comparison

Former AlphaTauri team principal Franz Tost has offered staggering comparison between Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson after the former replaced the latter at Red Bull.

Though the team is now know as Racing Bulls, Tost oversaw both drivers during his time at the Faenza-based team, which came to an end following the 2023 F1 season.

That year, Lawson replaced Daniel Ricciardo for five rounds after the Australian injured his hand during practice for that campaign's Dutch Grand Prix.

The New Zealander impressed enough to take over the 35-year-old's seat permanently towards the end of the following season - and get promoted to Red Bull over Tsunoda to replace Sergio Perez during the winter.

However, his time alongside Max Verstappen lasted just two rounds. The 23-year-old struggled massively in both Australia and China, scoring no points to the Dutchman's 36.

Therefore the Milton Keynes squad felt it best to make an early change, elevating the Japanese driver for his home event at Suzuka.

The 24-year-old immediately appeared to be more on the pace of the four-time F1 drivers' champion, finishing the first practice session just a tenth of a second behind Verstappen.

Putting Tsunoda in the second Red Bull car is a move Tost would have made from the start, claiming he made that known last season, despite having already left the team principal role he held for 18 years.

"I would have chosen Yuki Tsunoda from the start," he told ORF. "I said so. I already made that known last year."

Further still, he gave a forthright comparison between the two drivers, stating that Lawson will never be as quick as Tsunoda.

"Why? Yuki is much faster than Lawson," he added. "You can give him 100 years, he won't be as fast as Yuki. And Yuki is more experienced, so whatever, it's a very easy decision."