For Franz Tost, the choice was straightforward when the Red Bull leadership asked for his opinion on who might succeed Max Verstappen‘s colleague, Sergio Pérez. The former team boss of the training team recommended Yuki Tsunoda, the Japanese driver who, after two races in 2025, is likely to step into the RB21.
In retrospect, the decision-makers of Red Bull’s Formula 1 activities have been quite lenient with Nyck de Vries. The Frisian started in 2023 with high expectations for his debut year in Formula 1 at the satellite team AlphaTauri, but was let go after ten Grand Prix and a series of disappointing performances. Mercy is not a common trait at Red Bull, except for the past year with Sergio Pérez.
Liam Lawson, if he didn’t already know, has now learned this all too well. After two poor races, the New Zealander’s time with the racing team is, although not officially confirmed, already over. Weighed and found wanting. Twice last in qualifying, zero World Championship points. He was not granted more time. Lawson returns to the training team Racing Bulls, Tsunoda takes the opposite path. Hopefully, this will turn out well…
Red Bull Condemned
Aside from reputational damage, Red Bull is already being condemned worldwide for the ultra-fast decision to dismiss a young driver so quickly. The leadership appears to have had a panic attack. However, this time there is consensus on the remarkable choice, a consensus that was initially lacking in the choice for Lawson. That decision was one made by team boss and CEO Christian Horner.
The British team initially deemed Tsunoda not good enough, too wild, and lacking in feedback to fill Sergio Pérez‘s vacancy. Now, however, with the blessing of engine supplier Honda, Red Bull’s Thai majority shareholder, and advisor Helmut Marko, Tsunoda has been given the green light. Max Verstappen, on the other hand, reportedly advocated for Lawson to be given another chance in Japan in a week and a half, on a circuit he knows well, unlike Melbourne and Shanghai. But even this collegial recommendation couldn’t extend Lawson’s tenure with the parent team.
Lawson’s Failure
Red Bull’s decision-makers likely based their harsh measure on the most recent race in China last Sunday. Lawson, in the RB21, a rather unpredictable car that is more to the taste of team leader and star driver Verstappen, once again failed to make an impact in the qualifiers. He finished last, just as he had a week earlier in Melbourne. The car was therefore adjusted and tuned to Lawson’s preferences and driving style for the race. Despite this, the management detected insufficient improvement. To avoid a repeat and lengthy discussion like last year about retaining Pérez, who was given a lot of leeway by Red Bull standards, a forceful intervention was made this time. It was less costly than with Pérez, who received a multimillion-dollar payout after his contract was terminated.
Lawson is mentally battered and bruised, while Tsunoda now has the chance to prove whether he can stay within a reasonable margin of Verstappen: a daunting task. The world champion has already outperformed several teammates (Daniel Ricciardo, Pierre Gasly, Alexander Albon, Pérez, and Lawson). Will Tsunoda be next? If so, it could potentially cost the popular Japanese driver his Formula 1 career. But is that a concern for Red Bull? Probably not: there, only the survival of the fittest applies.
