Major shake-up in F1: Red Bull replaces Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda after just two races
In a major shake-up for the world of Formula 1, the Red Bull Racing team has decided to replace Liam Lawson after just two Grand Prix weekends in 2025 when he performed poorly
In a major shake-up for the world of Formula 1, the Red Bull Racing team has decided to replace Liam Lawson after just two Grand Prix weekends in 2025 when he performed poorly.Yuki Tsunoda of Racing Bulls has been promoted to the seat starting at his home race in Japan on April 6, when he will be teammate to four-time reigning world champion Max Verstappen. Lawson, 23, will return to the junior team he drove for last year.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner called it a collective decision by the organization, adding that it could benefit from four-year F1 veteran Tsunoda's input to develop the Red Bull car this year.
“It has been difficult to see Liam struggle with the RB21 at the first two races and as a result we have collectively taken the decision to make an early switch," Horner said in a statement.
"We came into the 2025 season with two ambitions, to retain the World Drivers’ Championship and to reclaim the World Constructors’ title and this is a purely sporting decision," he added. "We acknowledge there is a lot of work to be done with the RB21 and Yuki’s experience will prove highly beneficial in helping to develop the current car. We welcome him to the Team and are looking forward to seeing him behind the wheel of the RB21."
Red Bull drivers Liam Lawson and Max Verstappen on Day 1 of preseason testing at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir on Feb. 26.David Davies / PA Images via Getty Images fileLast year, Red Bull cut Sergio Pérez’s contract short and removed him after a string of poor performances. The potential replacements came down to Lawson, of New Zealand, and Tsunoda, who were both at the junior team. While Tsunoda had a modest edge on Lawson in their head-to-head battles, Red Bull opted in December to promote Lawson, instead, seeing more potential in him after he rapidly adapted to the car and occasionally outperformed his teammate.
Rating: 5