Liam Lawson, tapped by the team to replace Sergio Pérez, was out and Yuki Tsunoda, passed over initially by the team to replace Pérez, was in. That move sparked a debate throughout the Formula 1 world regarding how Red Bull continues to handle their second driver.

Yuki Tsunoda was promoted the other way and finds himself in the toughest job in motorsport – being teammate to reigning world champion Max Verstappen. It’s something of which the world champion is very aware.

Red Bulls Yuki Tsunoda was just one tenth behind Max Verstappen in the most representative practice session on Friday in Japan but was not fully satisfied; watch final practice on Saturday from 3.30am before qualifying at 7am,