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Red Bull Replaces Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda After Two Races

The team cites Lawson's struggles with the RB21 car and promotes Tsunoda for his experience and technical feedback ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix.

Formula One F1 - F1 75 Live Season Launch - The O2, London, Britain - February 18, 2025 Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson during the launch REUTERS/Andrew Boyers/File Photo
Formula One F1 - Chinese Grand Prix - Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai, China - March 23, 2025 Red Bull's Max Verstappen passes the chequered flag to finish fourth place in the Chinese Grand Prix REUTERS/Go Nakamura/File Photo

Overview

  • Liam Lawson has been demoted to Racing Bulls after failing to score points in his first two races with Red Bull, including a DNF in Australia and a 12th-place finish in China.
  • Yuki Tsunoda, who has shown strong form and improved consistency, will debut as Max Verstappen's teammate at his home race in Japan on April 6.
  • Red Bull's RB21 car has been described as difficult to handle, contributing to Lawson's struggles and overall team performance issues, with the team currently third in the Constructors' Championship.
  • The decision has drawn criticism for Red Bull's treatment of young drivers, with Verstappen and other F1 figures expressing dissatisfaction over the quick demotion.
  • Red Bull leadership emphasized the need for a strong second driver to support Verstappen and provide feedback to address the RB21's handling challenges.