In a stunning turn of events, Red Bull Racing has reportedly decided to replace New Zealand driver Liam Lawson with Japanese star Yuki Tsunoda after just two races into the 2025 Formula 1 season. The move, expected to be officially confirmed later this week, will see Tsunoda take the coveted seat alongside four-time world champion Max Verstappen starting at his home race, the Japanese Grand Prix, scheduled for April 4-6 at Suzuka.
Lawson, 23, was promoted to Red Bull Racing over the winter, replacing veteran Sergio Perez after a brief but promising stint with the team’s sister outfit, Racing Bulls (formerly AlphaTauri). However, his tenure with the senior team has been nothing short of a nightmare. In his debut races in Australia and China, Lawson struggled to adapt to the demanding RB21 car, failing to score a single point and qualifying at the back of the grid in both events. His lackluster performance stood in stark contrast to Verstappen, who sits second in the drivers’ standings with 36 points, just eight behind McLaren’s Lando Norris.
Meanwhile, Tsunoda, 24, has been a standout performer for Racing Bulls this season, scoring three points with a sixth-place finish in the Shanghai sprint race last weekend. His consistency and maturity have caught the eye of Red Bull’s top brass, including senior advisor Helmut Marko, who recently praised the Japanese driver, saying, “Yuki is a different Yuki from the years before. He is in the form of his life.” Tsunoda’s promotion marks a significant milestone, as he becomes the first Japanese driver to race for Red Bull Racing, a move heavily backed by the team’s engine partner, Honda.
Reports suggest that Honda, set to part ways with Red Bull at the end of 2025, has played a pivotal role in securing Tsunoda’s seat. Sources indicate the Japanese manufacturer is prepared to inject an additional €10 million into the team to ensure their protégé races alongside Verstappen, a deal that aligns with Tsunoda’s debut at Suzuka—a circuit owned by Honda. This financial and strategic push underscores Honda’s commitment to seeing a Japanese driver succeed at the highest level of motorsport, a feat not achieved on the podium since Kamui Kobayashi over a decade ago.
For Lawson, the decision marks a swift and brutal end to his Red Bull Racing dream—at least for now. He is expected to return to Racing Bulls in a straight swap with Tsunoda, a move made possible by Red Bull’s flexible driver contracts. While this demotion is a setback, it’s not unfamiliar territory for the team, which has a history of reshuffling its lineup mid-season. Drivers like Daniil Kvyat and Pierre Gasly have faced similar fates, with varying degrees of success upon returning to the junior team.
Team principal Christian Horner addressed Lawson’s struggles after the Chinese Grand Prix, offering a measured response: “Liam’s had a tough couple of races, a tough weekend here. We’ll have a good look at it and work with him to do the best we can.” However, Horner was notably more enthusiastic about Tsunoda, calling him “an experienced driver now doing a great job.” The contrast in tone fueled speculation that a change was imminent, a sentiment that gained traction following an emergency meeting in Dubai earlier this week.
The decision has sparked debate within the F1 community. Some argue that Lawson, who had only 11 prior grands prix under his belt before joining Red Bull, deserved more time to adjust to the notoriously tricky RB21, a car even Verstappen has described as challenging. Others point to Tsunoda’s strong form and Honda’s influence as justification for the switch, especially with the Constructors’ Championship battle heating up against rivals McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes.
For Tsunoda, the opportunity is a dream come true. Speaking in China, he expressed his readiness to step up: “Japan? Yeah, 100%. The car is faster.” His debut as a Red Bull driver is poised to be a high-profile affair, with a planned show run in Tokyo on the Wednesday before the Japanese Grand Prix adding to the anticipation.