Overview

• Liam Lawson has been demoted to Visa Cash App Racing Bulls after failing to score points in the first two races of the 2025 Formula 1 season.
• Yuki Tsunoda, who has four years of F1 experience, will debut as Max Verstappen's teammate at the Japanese Grand Prix on April 6.
• Red Bull cited Lawson's struggles with the RB21 car and the need for a stronger second driver to support Verstappen's championship bid.
• The RB21 car's narrow performance window has created challenges for drivers, compounding Red Bull's underperformance in the Constructors' Championship, where they currently sit third.
• The decision has drawn criticism, including from Verstappen, who reportedly disapproves of the handling of Lawson's demotion.