Yuki Tsunoda dealt major Red Bull warning as swap questioned

Former F1 driver Christian Danner has warned Yuki Tsunoda that he faces a "fundamental" problem at Red Bull, and has questioned if the Japanese star even wanted to switch teams. 

It was announced on Thursday morning that Liam Lawson and Tsunoda would swap seats ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, due to Red Bull needing the latter's experience to improve the RB21. 

Tsunoda has waited for his chance to race for the Milton Keynes-based team and will finally get his opportunity; however, Danner can only see it going one way. 

As has been the case for almost every driver to partner Max Verstappen at Red Bull, Danner expects Tsunoda to have the same issues regarding controlling the car. 

Red Bull has a recent history of designing its cars to suit the reigning world champion's driving style, something no other driver has been able to manage.

"I don’t think it will be fundamentally different, even if you put Tsunoda in or someone else," Danner told AvD Motorsport Magazin.

"I stick to my guns: it doesn’t matter who you put in the car, they will all have the same problems. I would rather change the car than keep swapping drivers.

"The careers and also the future of young Formula 1 drivers are being played around with quite nonchalantly here. I’m sure Tsunoda is questioning whether he really wants to drive the Red Bull."

Red Bull problem

In Danner's opinion, the problem at Red Bull over recent years is not its second driver, but the way it has been building and developing its cars. 

As mentioned, Red Bull has built its cars around Verstappen's driving style, often causing issues for whoever is alongside him. 

It is a strategy which has hurt the careers of several drivers, with Lawson being the latest victim of the Red Bull second-seat curse. 

Danner believes the Austrian outfit must change its approach and instead build a car which works for both drivers.

"The problem is simply that Max Verstappen needs or wants a car that his team-mates can’t drive," added Danner. 

"How the team deals with this is a fundamental decision and ultimately also an internal political problem between Christian Horner and Helmut Marko.

"I would urge my technical team to design the car so that top juniors, top people can drive it. Verstappen drives faster than everyone else, even with a different car, I’m sure of that.

"[Lawson has] been very fast with everything he’s driven. And now all of a sudden he’s supposed to have forgotten how to do it? You have to take a very close look and analyse it very carefully."