Red Bull confirm Tsunoda to replace Lawson

Red Bull have made it clear that they will immediately remove Liam Lawson and replace him with Yuki Tsunoda.

After Lawson had won just two Grand Prix for Red Bull, and Tsunoda was traded for the New Zealander in place of Sergio Perez, the decision was made.

Max Verstappen and Tsunoda, 24, will compete for Red Bull from April 4 through April 4, while Lawson will start for the second team Racing Bulls as team-mate to French rookie Isack Hadjar.

Verstappen believes that their car may be only the fourth-fastest in the field, despite McLaren and Mercedes having won the constructors’ championship after two races.

Lando Norris’ McLaren won the race in the wet season-opening Australian Grand Prix, and the Dutchman finished fourth in the Chinese Grand Prix over the weekend.

Lawson finished 18th in Melbourne before being eliminated. He placed 14th and 12th in China, coming in last both for the sprint and the grand prix.

His position in the Shanghai grand prix would have improved since Pierre Gasly’s Alpine and Ferrari’s disqualifications, which would have placed him 15th overall.

“We recognize that there is a lot of work to be done with the RB21, and Yuki’s experience will prove very useful in helping to develop the current car,” Horner said in a statement.

At a meeting of Red Bull’s CEOs in Dubai on Monday, including Horner and Chalerm Yoovidhya’s chief shareholder, the decision was made.

When Red Bull made the decision to terminate Perez two years before the end of his contract, they chose Lawson because they believed Tsunoda lacked the mental toughness to be Verstappen’s teammate and that Lawson had more potential.

The 23-year-old New Zealander won just 11 grands prix for Red Bull’s second team in the previous two seasons.

Verstappen won his fourth consecutive world title, but Red Bull’s car was no longer competitive, and he had lost that title just twice.

Red Bull have a reputation for handling their young driver program with ruthlessness, but dropping Lawson after two races is extraordinary.

In a statement from Horner, it was stated: “We have a duty of care to protect and develop Liam, and together we see that it makes sense to act quickly so that Liam can gain experience as he continues his F1 career with Racing Bulls, an environment, and a team he knows very well.

Tsunoda’s senior team debut will be at his hometown race in Suzuka, which is owned by Japanese automaker Honda, which has long supported the driver’s career.

Since making his Formula One debut in 2021, he has been a member of Red Bull’s second team, which was previously known as Alpha Tauri and RB.

His promotion provides an opportunity for him to advance to the top of the sport’s standing.

Tsunoda won’t make a team-mate because Honda is transferring to Aston Martin in 2026.

Even though Red Bull has long questioned his potential as a future driver, he has the chance to show that to the team’s bosses if he can demonstrate himself.

Tsunoda has started the 2025 season well, placing fifth in Australia and ninth in China, where he placed sixth in the sprint race.

Similar to how Red Bull rejected Gasly and Alex Albon before, Lawson will be informed that his demotion offers him an opportunity to reclaim his career.

After just half a season in 2019, Gasly was replaced by Albon, who had a year and a half in reserve driving in place of Perez.

Both Gasly and Albon have flourished and have since moved to Alpine.