TSUNODA REPLACES LAWSON AT RED BULL FROM JAPANESE GP
Red Bull has announced that Yuki Tsunoda will take Liam Lawson’s place in the main Red Bull Racing team starting from the Japanese Grand Prix. This change comes after Lawson struggled in his first two races of the season.
Lawson, who replaced Daniel Ricciardo in 2024 at the RB team, had performed well enough to earn a promotion to Red Bull for 2025 as Max Verstappen’s teammate. However, he had a tough start with the RB21 car, crashing out in Australia and finishing 15th in China (later adjusted to 12th). Rumors began to spread that he might be replaced, and now it’s official—Tsunoda will take over his seat when F1 returns to Suzuka on April 4-6.
Tsunoda, who made his F1 debut in 2021 with AlphaTauri, has shown steady improvement over the years, outperforming teammates like Nyck de Vries and Daniel Ricciardo. In 2024, he was a key player for his team, scoring 30 of their 46 points. After testing for Red Bull in Abu Dhabi, the team initially chose Lawson over him to replace Sergio Perez. Tsunoda accepted the decision, saying he wasn’t “super angry or disappointed.”
Now, with Lawson being moved back after just two races, Tsunoda has been given the chance to race alongside Verstappen, starting at his home Grand Prix in Japan. Meanwhile, Lawson will return to Racing Bulls and team up with rookie Isack Hadjar. This situation is similar to what happened in the past with Daniil Kvyat and Pierre Gasly, who were also sent back to Red Bull’s junior team after brief stints in the main team.
Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner explained the decision:
“It was tough to see Liam struggle with the RB21 in the first two races. We had to make a quick decision because our goal this season is to win both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships. Yuki’s experience will help us improve the car. We’re excited to have him join the team.”
Horner also mentioned that the move was to protect and develop Lawson, allowing him to gain more experience at Racing Bulls, a team he is familiar with.
Racing Bulls Team Principal Laurent Mekies congratulated Tsunoda:
“We’re incredibly proud of Yuki for earning his well-deserved promotion to Red Bull! His progress has been outstanding, and he’s been an inspiration to our team. He will always be a Racing Bull, and we wish him all the success at Red Bull Racing.”
Mekies also expressed confidence in Lawson, saying the team will provide him with the best support to help him perform well alongside Hadjar.
Leave a Reply