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In a surprising mid-season shake-up, Red Bull Racing has confirmed that Yuki Tsunoda will replace Liam Lawson in their senior Formula 1 team with immediate effect. The Japanese driver will make his Red Bull debut alongside Max Verstappen at his home Grand Prix in Suzuka from April 4-6.
The decision comes after just two races in the 2025 season, where Lawson struggled with the RB21 car. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner stated that the team had to act quickly. “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.
Red Bull, currently third in the constructors’ standings behind McLaren and Mercedes, has been dealing with a drop in car performance compared to previous seasons. Verstappen, who finished second in the Australian Grand Prix and fourth in China, has voiced concerns about the RB21’s balance issues.
Lawson, 23, endured a difficult start to the season, qualifying 18th in Melbourne before crashing out of the race. His performance in China was also underwhelming, with last-place qualifications in both the sprint and the Grand Prix, finishing 12th in the race after post-race disqualifications.
Tsunoda, who has been racing with Red Bull’s second team since his debut in 2021, has shown promise this season, securing a fifth-place qualification in Australia and a sixth-place finish in China’s sprint race. His promotion offers him a chance to secure his long-term future in F1, especially with Honda moving to Aston Martin in 2026.
Lawson will return to Red Bull’s second team, Racing Bulls, partnering rookie Isack Hadjar. Red Bull hopes this move will allow him to rebuild his career, similar to past drivers Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon, who also faced demotions before finding success elsewhere in F1.
Red Bull’s handling of young drivers has always been ruthless, and this latest decision underscores their high-stakes approach to maintaining competitiveness. With Tsunoda stepping up, all eyes will be on Suzuka to see if he can rise to the challenge.
