Red Bull Racing has officially announced a change in their driver lineup. Starting from the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix, Yuki Tsunoda will be Max Verstappen`s new teammate, replacing Liam Lawson. The team stated that this decision is aimed at fostering Lawson`s development and ensuring his progress within the Red Bull program.
Liam Lawson, after competing in just two races for Red Bull, will be returning to Racing Bulls. Team principal Christian Horner emphasized the team`s responsibility to nurture young talent as a key factor in this decision. Tsunoda, on the other hand, will finally get the opportunity to race alongside Max Verstappen, a position he has been vying for throughout his four seasons with the second Red Bull team.
Currently, Max Verstappen holds the second position in the Formula 1 Drivers` Championship with 45 points. Liam Lawson, in contrast, has yet to score any points. This performance gap led Red Bull to implement what they term a `driver rotation`.
Horner explained, “It was evident that Liam was facing challenges with the RB21 car in the initial races. Therefore, we collectively decided to make this driver switch proactively.”
He further elaborated on the team`s objectives for the season, stating, “Our goals for the 2025 season are twofold: to secure both the World Drivers` Championship and reclaim the World Constructors` title. This driver change is purely a strategic sporting decision to help us achieve these goals.”
Lawson`s new teammate at Racing Bulls will be Isack Hadjar. Despite having only participated in 11 Formula 1 race weekends, Lawson was initially chosen over Tsunoda to replace Sergio Perez during the off-season.
Horner pointed to Tsunoda`s greater experience as the primary reason for this unexpected swap, a move considered unusual in recent Formula 1 history.
Horner further commented, “We recognize the significant development work required for the RB21 car, and Yuki`s experience will be invaluable in enhancing the car`s performance.”
“We are pleased to welcome Yuki to the team and anticipate his contributions behind the wheel of the RB21.”
“We are committed to Liam`s growth and development. Considering his challenging start, we believe it`s prudent to take swift action. This move allows Liam to gain further experience within Visa Cash App Racing Bulls, a familiar team and environment, as he continues his Formula 1 journey.”
Max Verstappen`s Teammates at Red Bull
| Driver | Season(s) | Races |
|---|---|---|
| Daniel Ricciardo | 2016-2018 | 58 |
| Pierre Gasly | 2019 | 12 |
| Alex Albon | 2019-2020 | 26 |
| Sergio Perez | 2021-2024 | 90 |
| Liam Lawson | 2025 | 2 |
Liam Lawson`s Difficult Start with Red Bull
Lawson`s 2025 season has been challenging. He was eliminated in the first qualifying stage in all three sessions, including a Sprint format session, and his race pace lagged behind Verstappen`s.
At the Australian Grand Prix, his Red Bull debut, Lawson qualified 18th and later retired from the race in rainy conditions, having been lapped.
During the Chinese Grand Prix weekend, Lawson expressed concern, stating he felt `he didn`t have time` after qualifying last again, while Verstappen started from the second row.
Red Bull opted to start Lawson from the pit lane in China to implement significant car setup changes. However, this adjustment did not yield noticeable improvements.
“The strategy for Sunday in China aimed to simplify the car`s handling and improve balance, but unfortunately, it backfired, making the car slower overall,” Lawson admitted.
“That’s how it is, and I need to adapt to it.”
Liam Lawson`s Red Bull Results
| Event | Result |
|---|---|
| Australian GP Qualifying | 18th |
| Australian GP | DNF |
| Chinese GP Sprint Qualifying | 20th |
| Chinese GP Sprint | 14th |
| Chinese GP Qualifying | 20th |
| Chinese GP | 12th |
Is Red Bull Making the Right Call?
Red Bull is attempting to correct their initial decision of choosing Lawson over Tsunoda at the beginning of the year. However, the timing of this sudden swap is questionable.
It might seem more logical to have given Lawson at least the upcoming races to demonstrate his capabilities, especially at tracks where he has prior experience. A decision could then be made based on his performance in those races.
Lawson`s lack of experience at both Australian and Chinese circuits, combined with the limited practice time in a Sprint weekend in China, partly explains his difficulties.
Red Bull might argue the necessity for immediate improvement and perhaps believe that introducing Tsunoda can`t worsen the situation after just two races.
However, the pressure on Tsunoda, especially at his home race, will be significantly amplified. Suzuka is also a challenging circuit to adapt to a new car quickly due to its demanding nature.
Red Bull urgently needs Tsunoda to perform well. The question remains: what are their alternatives if he doesn`t, and what is Verstappen`s perspective on these changes?
Red Bull`s History of Driver Demotions
Lawson is now the fourth driver to be demoted from the main Red Bull team mid-season, following Christian Klien in 2007, Daniil Kvyat in 2016, and Pierre Gasly in 2019.
Has an F1 Driver Ever Been Dropped This Early?
Formula 1`s history includes various scenarios, but replacing a driver so early in a season is uncommon.
In a different situation from Lawson, Yuji Ide holds the record for the shortest full-time F1 drive this century. His FIA superlicence was revoked after four races with Super Aguri in 2006. He never raced in F1 again.
More recently, Nyck de Vries lasted ten races in 2023 with the team now known as Racing Bulls before being replaced by Daniel Ricciardo.
In 2019, Red Bull swapped Pierre Gasly for Alex Albon after Gasly participated in just 12 races for the senior team.
Kvyat joined Red Bull in 2015 but was demoted after four races in 2016 following collisions. Verstappen took his seat and won his first race for Red Bull at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix.
Gasly, after regaining confidence, performed strongly for the second Red Bull team, notably winning the 2020 Italian Grand Prix, before joining Alpine in 2023.
At Toro Rosso, now Racing Bulls, Scott Speed and Sebastien Bourdais were also replaced mid-season in the late 2000s, before a period of more stable driver lineups within the Red Bull teams.
Kvyat lost his Toro Rosso seat in late 2017 but returned in 2019. Nyck de Vries was replaced during the 2023 summer break by Daniel Ricciardo, who himself was later replaced by Lawson with six races remaining in the 2024 season.
