Tsunoda replaces Lawson at Red Bull starting from the Japanese GP after just two races.
The New Zealand driver returns to Racing Bulls, with whom he already competed in the final races of last season.
It took just two races for Christian Horner and Red Bull Racing to make the drastic decision to immediately replace the newly promoted Liam Lawson. Starting from the Japanese GP, which will take place from April 4 to 6 at the Suzuka circuit, it will be none other than Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda who permanently takes his seat.
The 23-year-old New Zealander, who had been promoted to the main team as Max Verstappen’s teammate following Sergio Pérez’s departure at the end of last season, has failed to score points in the first two rounds of the championship. In Australia, Lawson qualified 18th and crashed in the rain during the race, while in China, he endured a weekend to forget—finishing last in the sprint qualifying, last in Saturday’s qualifying session, 14th in the sprint race, and ultimately 12th on Sunday due to the disqualifications of Leclerc, Hamilton, and Gasly.
Meanwhile, Tsunoda has managed to score 3 points in the first two races of the season, thanks to his 6th place finish in the China sprint.
A "purely sporting" decision, according to Horner
Christian Horner, Red Bull team principal and CEO, justified the change as a necessary measure for the team’s objectives: “We entered the 2025 season with two ambitions: to retain the Drivers’ World Championship and reclaim the Constructors’ title, and this is a purely sporting decision.”
“It has been tough to see Liam struggle with the RB21 in the first two races, so we have collectively decided to make a quick change. We are aware that there is still a lot of work to do with the RB21, and Yuki’s experience will be very beneficial in helping to develop the current car,” Horner added in statements released by the team.
In an attempt to soften the impact of the decision on Lawson, Horner also stated: “We have a duty to protect and develop Liam, and together, we see that after such a difficult start, it makes sense to act quickly so that Liam can gain experience while continuing his F1 career with Visa Cash App Racing Bulls, an environment and a team he knows very well.”
Meanwhile, Liam Lawson, who now holds the record for the shortest tenure at the Austrian team—surpassing Dutch driver Robert Doornbos’ three appearances in 2006 and Italian Vitantonio Liuzzi’s four in 2005—expressed his disappointment over the harsh decision on his Instagram account: “Being a Red Bull driver has been my dream since I was a kid; it’s what I’ve worked for my whole life. It’s tough, but I’m grateful for everything that has led me to this point. To each and every one of you who have been there, thank you for all the support—it means the world.”
Tsunoda’s Experience Against the RB21’s Challenges
For many, Tsunoda was always the best option to partner with Verstappen at Red Bull due to his accumulated experience in Formula 1. Since making his debut with AlphaTauri in 2021, the Japanese driver has continued to develop in the following years, outperforming his former teammates, Nyck de Vries and Daniel Ricciardo.
Tsunoda has competed in 89 races since his debut with AlphaTauri (now Racing Bulls) in 2021. In the 2024 season, he secured 30 of the 46 points his team earned throughout the championship.
Notably, Tsunoda and Lawson were teammates in the final stages of last season when the New Zealander replaced Daniel Ricciardo.
Tsunoda Faces a Major Challenge Ahead
The RB21 has proven to be a difficult car to drive, still trailing behind McLaren, with only Max Verstappen managing to make it competitive thanks to his aggressive and unique driving style. The team is counting on Tsunoda’s experience to help further develop the car and secure crucial points in the fight to reclaim the Constructors’ Championship.
Now, he will have the opportunity to race alongside Verstappen in the reigning champion team, starting at home in Suzuka, his home Grand Prix.