Photo Credit:Associated Press
In a move that has left the Formula 1 world in disbelief, Red Bull has dropped Liam Lawson after just two races, reinstating Yuki Tsunoda in his place. The decision, which will see the 23-year-old New Zealander return to Red Bull’s second team, Racing Bulls, has been widely criticized as one of the most ruthless driver changes in recent history.
Lawson’s brief Red Bull stint got off to a rough start, with an 18th-place qualifying result in Australia followed by a crash in the rain. In China, he struggled again, qualifying last for both the sprint and the main race, ultimately finishing 14th and 12th. With an average qualifying deficit of 0.88 seconds to teammate Max Verstappen, Red Bull bosses reportedly lost confidence in his ability to perform at the highest level.
The swap was decided in a high-level meeting in Dubai, attended by key Red Bull figures, including team principal Christian Horner. The team has yet to make an official statement, but sources indicate the change will be confirmed before the next race in Japan.
What makes the decision even more extraordinary is the fact that Red Bull had initially chosen Lawson over Tsunoda when they opted to part ways with Sergio Perez at the end of last season. Perez, despite having two years left on his contract, was paid off after a poor 2024 campaign in which he failed to finish on the podium beyond the season’s fifth race. Red Bull’s internal debate over whether to promote Tsunoda or Lawson ended with Lawson getting the nod—only for the team to reverse course after just two races.
Tsunoda, who has been racing for Red Bull’s second team since 2021, made no secret of his desire to step up to the main team. When asked at
the Chinese Grand Prix if he would accept a Red Bull promotion, he responded, “Yeah, why not? Always. In Japan? Yeah, 100%. I mean, the car is faster.” Lawson, on the other hand, defended his place, stating, “I've raced him for years, raced him in junior categories and beat him – and I did in F1 as well.”
Many in the F1 paddock see the swap as a sign of panic within Red Bull’s management. Verstappen himself is rumored to be against the decision, believing the problem lies not with Lawson but with Red Bull’s struggling RB20 car. The reigning champion has openly stated that the 2025 Red Bull is only the fourth-fastest car on the grid, trailing McLaren, Mercedes, and Ferrari. Despite this, the team appears to be placing the blame on its second driver rather than addressing the deeper issues with their car.
Lawson’s demotion adds him to a growing list of drivers who have fallen victim to Red Bull’s unforgiving approach. While he at least remains on the F1 grid, his time with the main team will go down as one of the shortest in history. Whether Tsunoda fares any better remains to be seen, but one thing is clear—Red Bull’s cutthroat driver policy remains as brutal as ever.
The swap was decided in a high-level meeting in Dubai, attended by key Red Bull figures, including team principal Christian Horner. The team has yet to make an official statement, but sources indicate the change will be confirmed before the next race in Japan.
What makes the decision even more extraordinary is the fact that Red Bull had initially chosen Lawson over Tsunoda when they opted to part ways with Sergio Perez at the end of last season. Perez, despite having two years left on his contract, was paid off after a poor 2024 campaign in which he failed to finish on the podium beyond the season’s fifth race. Red Bull’s internal debate over whether to promote Tsunoda or Lawson ended with Lawson getting the nod—only for the team to reverse course after just two races.
Tsunoda, who has been racing for Red Bull’s second team since 2021, made no secret of his desire to step up to the main team. When asked at
the Chinese Grand Prix if he would accept a Red Bull promotion, he responded, “Yeah, why not? Always. In Japan? Yeah, 100%. I mean, the car is faster.” Lawson, on the other hand, defended his place, stating, “I've raced him for years, raced him in junior categories and beat him – and I did in F1 as well.”
Many in the F1 paddock see the swap as a sign of panic within Red Bull’s management. Verstappen himself is rumored to be against the decision, believing the problem lies not with Lawson but with Red Bull’s struggling RB20 car. The reigning champion has openly stated that the 2025 Red Bull is only the fourth-fastest car on the grid, trailing McLaren, Mercedes, and Ferrari. Despite this, the team appears to be placing the blame on its second driver rather than addressing the deeper issues with their car.
Lawson’s demotion adds him to a growing list of drivers who have fallen victim to Red Bull’s unforgiving approach. While he at least remains on the F1 grid, his time with the main team will go down as one of the shortest in history. Whether Tsunoda fares any better remains to be seen, but one thing is clear—Red Bull’s cutthroat driver policy remains as brutal as ever.
