Red Bull has decided to replace Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda for the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix, following a challenging start to Lawson’s season.
Red Bull’s Decision to Drop Lawson
According to sources, Red Bull’s leadership, including team principal Christian Horner, made the decision in a meeting in Dubai on Monday. The move, first reported by Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, is expected to be officially announced later this week.
Lawson’s performance in the first two races of the season has been underwhelming. The New Zealander qualified 18th in Australia before crashing out in wet conditions. In China, he qualified last for both the sprint race and the main Grand Prix, finishing 14th and 12th, respectively.
His average qualifying gap to teammate Max Verstappen has been 0.88 seconds. In contrast, Verstappen secured a second-place finish in Australia and podium positions in Shanghai’s sprint and Grand Prix.
Yuki Tsunoda Set for Promotion
Tsunoda, who has been racing for Red Bull’s second team, Racing Bulls, since 2021, is expected to make the move to the main Red Bull team. When asked about the potential promotion during the Chinese Grand Prix, Tsunoda responded enthusiastically:
“Yeah, why not? Always. In Japan? Yeah, 100%. I mean, the car is faster.”
Lawson, when asked about Tsunoda’s statement, replied:
“I’ve raced him for years, beat him in junior categories, and I did in F1 as well, so he can say whatever he wants.”
Lawson’s Short-Lived Red Bull Career
Lawson was initially promoted to Red Bull this season after the team decided to part ways with Sergio Perez, despite the Mexican driver having two years remaining on his contract. Perez’s declining performance in 2024, mirroring his struggles in 2023, led Red Bull to opt for a change.
Although Red Bull had the option of promoting either Lawson or Tsunoda, they chose Lawson, believing he had more potential for long-term improvement. However, his struggles in the first two races forced the team to reconsider.
Tsunoda’s consistency in qualifying and races has given him the edge. He outqualified Lawson four times to two in 2023 and seven times to two in 2024. In races where both drivers finished, Tsunoda has beaten Lawson six times out of ten.
Verstappen Disagrees with the Decision
Sources suggest that Max Verstappen believes replacing Lawson is a mistake, arguing that Red Bull’s struggles stem from the car’s performance rather than the second driver.
The reigning world champion has stated that the 2025 Red Bull is currently the fourth-fastest car on the grid, trailing McLaren, Mercedes, and Ferrari. Red Bull’s ongoing balance issues have persisted since last season, impacting their race results.
With Tsunoda’s promotion set to be confirmed soon, all eyes will be on the Japanese Grand Prix to see if Red Bull’s decision pays off.
