Red Bull Racing has made a bold decision, dropping Liam Lawson after just two race weekends as Max Verstappen’s teammate. The New Zealander has been demoted back to Red Bull’s junior team, and in his place, 24-year-old Yuki Tsunoda will step up, making his debut in the senior team at the Japanese Grand Prix next week.
Speculation about Lawson’s future grew after disappointing performances in China and Melbourne. In China, Lawson qualified last for both the sprint and the Grand Prix, finishing 14th and 12th. The previous week, he struggled with an 18th-place qualifying position and a crash in Melbourne. These struggles prompted Red Bull to make the difficult call to switch drivers early in the season.
Christian Horner, Red Bull’s team principal and CEO, explained, “It has been tough to see Liam struggle with the RB21, and we’ve collectively decided to make an early switch. Our goal for 2025 remains to defend the World Drivers’ Championship and reclaim the Constructors’ title, and this decision is purely sporting.”
Horner further noted that Tsunoda’s experience would help in the development of the RB21, while Lawson will continue his F1 career with Red Bull’s junior team, Visa Cash App Racing Bulls. Despite the harsh decision, Red Bull remains focused on improving their performance as the season progresses.
Title: Red Bull Drops Liam Lawson, Promotes Yuki Tsunoda
