Following the first two races of the 2025 Formula 1 season, Red Bull made a surprising decision to replace Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda, sending Lawson back to Racing Bulls. This unexpected move signals that Red Bull is unwilling to take further risks in their championship battle.
At the end of 2024, Sergio Perez’s underwhelming performance led Red Bull to search for a replacement. Initially, the team chose to give young talent Liam Lawson a shot alongside Max Verstappen, a decision that sparked significant debate.
In the opening two race weekends, Liam Lawson struggled to perform. He failed to reach Q3 in qualifying sessions and faced difficulties in race conditions. A crash in Melbourne forced him to retire, while in Shanghai, he finished 14th in the sprint race and 12th in the main event.
As a result, while Max Verstappen consistently collected crucial points, Lawson remained pointless, raising concerns within Red Bull’s management.
Following the Chinese Grand Prix, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner faced a barrage of questions regarding Tsunoda potentially replacing Lawson. Horner stated that Red Bull would analyze the data collected from Lawson’s car to evaluate his performance.
By Tuesday, speculation turned into reality. Red Bull, unwilling to jeopardize their position in the constructors’ championship, made a decisive move. Ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, they removed Lawson from the Red Bull seat and reinstated Yuki Tsunoda.
One of the main reasons for this early change was Tsunoda’s greater Formula 1 experience. Red Bull believes his expertise will contribute to the development of the RB21 alongside Max Verstappen. Additionally, reports suggest that the decision was not solely Horner’s but rather a consensus among the team’s leadership.
Now, all eyes are on how this change will impact Red Bull’s performance. Will Tsunoda provide the boost the team needs? We will find out in the upcoming races.