Red Bull Racing has made a driver switch ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, with Yuki Tsunoda stepping up to replace Liam Lawson in the senior team. The move comes after Lawson’s underwhelming start to the 2025 season, sparking internal debate about whether the team was right to act early to stabilise its performance.
Liam Lawson’s Rocky Start
Liam Lawson, 23, earned a full-time seat with Red Bull this season following his substitute appearances in 2023 and 2024. However, his promotion has not delivered, the results Red Bull had hoped for. In Australia, Lawson failed to finish after crashing out from a pit lane start. His fortunes didn’t improve in China, where he qualified last for the Sprint and the Grand Prix. He ended the weekend 14 th and 16 th respectively—far from points contention.
Red Bull’s senior management reportedly reviewed whether Lawson was struggling purely due to his own form or due to the car’s tricky handling characteristics before demoting him to Racing Bulls. The pressure within the team is mounting, especially with such a competitive grid this season.
Tsunoda’s Rising Stock
Yuki Tsunoda quietly emerged as a strong candidate to take Lawson’s seat. Having raced for Racing Bulls, Red Bull’s junior outfit, Tsunoda impressed at the Chinese Grand Prix Sprint by scoring three points. His composure, tyre management, and experience have earned praise within the paddock, and with Suzuka just around the corner, the timing couldn’t be more symbolic.
Tsunoda, making his senior team debut at his home race would carry not only emotional weight but marketing and performance value for Red Bull, especially if Lawson’s current form shows no immediate signs of recovery.
Team Dynamics and Internal Reactions
The swap has stirred contrasting views within Red Bull. Max Verstappen, the reigning world champion, is reportedly unhappy with the prospect of replacing Lawson so early. He believes Lawson’s struggles are due in part to a difficult car setup and not solely down to the driver’s capabilities.
What the Swap Could Me
Lawson returns to Racing Bulls, taking over Tsunoda’s seat and pairing with rookie Isack Hadjar. Tsunoda will step up to the main team and join Verstappen at Red Bull Racing—becoming the first Japanese driver to race for Red Bull at Suzuka.
The discussions highlight how quickly driver lineups can shift in Formula 1. Performance expectations are sky-high, and teams like Red Bull aren’t shy about making bold mid-season moves if the data backs it.
