The decision has been made – Yuki Tsunoda is stepping in at Red Bull with immediate effect. Rookie Liam Lawson is being sacrificed by the team management after just two races. Team boss Christian Horner speaks of a ‘joint decision’, in which Lawson – for his own good – is being demoted to Racing Bulls. At the subsidiary team, he will still have the opportunity to further develop.
“It was difficult to see Liam struggling with the RB21 during the first two races, and that’s why we jointly decided to make the switch early,” Horner responded in an official press release. “We entered the 2025 season with two ambitions: to retain the drivers’ world championship and to reclaim the constructors’ world title. We acknowledge that there is still a lot of work to be done with the RB21, and Tsunoda’s experience will be very useful in the development of the current car. Red Bull welcomes him to the team and we look forward to seeing him behind the wheel of the RB21.”
‘Continuing Career at Racing Bulls’
“It is our responsibility to further protect Lawson now and help him develop,” Horner continued. “We agree that after such a difficult start, it is wise to act quickly,” he referred to the sudden driver switch. “This way, we can ensure that he gains enough experience and can continue his Formula 1 career at Racing Bulls, an environment and a team he knows well.”
However, many experts question Red Bull’s approach. The question remains whether Yuki Tsunoda should not have been driving alongside Max Verstappen directly this year. After all, the Japanese driver had – and still has – much more experience than his New Zealand counterpart. Reportedly, it was Christian Horner who blocked Tsunoda’s promotion and insisted on having Lawson.
