Red Bull F1 Driver Change: Lawson Replaced by Tsunoda for Japanese GP

Red Bull`s decision to replace Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda before the Japanese Grand Prix raises important questions. This driver swap is set to happen next week at Suzuka.

Why the Change Now?

Red Bull states this is a “purely sporting decision” to help them win back the constructors` championship from McLaren. They announced this “driver rotation” on Thursday morning.

Christian Horner, Red Bull team principal, mentioned a “duty of care” for Lawson. He said this move will help Lawson`s development after two tough races in the RB21 car.

• Red Bull claims `duty of care` in Lawson-Tsunoda swap.

Despite Red Bull`s reasons, this change is a harsh blow for the 23-year-old Lawson, especially after his winter promotion from Racing Bulls (formerly Toro Rosso/AlphaTauri).

Lawson`s performance in his two race weekends in a top car was unexpectedly poor.

His qualifying results were 18th, 20th, and 20th – the worst for a Red Bull driver in 20 years. Race results were a crash in the Australian GP (retirement), 14th in the China Sprint, and 12th in the Chinese GP (after three drivers ahead were disqualified).

In contrast, Max Verstappen, the world champion, always qualified in the top two rows and finished second, third, and fourth in the same RB21 car.

Verstappen is only eight points behind Lando Norris in the Drivers` Championship. However, Red Bull is already 42 points behind McLaren in the constructors` championship due to Lawson`s lack of points. The constructors` standings determine prize money for teams.

Lawson`s results show he struggled significantly in a car that Verstappen performed well in. Lawson admitted his pace was “just not good enough” after qualifying last in Shanghai for the second time.

Craig Slater from Sky Sports News suggested: “Could removing him from the pressure be better for him in the long run?”

People who observed Lawson in the first two race weekends described him as “frazzled,” “at a loss,” and feeling “too much too soon.”

His qualifying results – 19th and two 20ths – are not typical for Red Bull.

Liam Lawson`s Red Bull Results

Why Not Give Lawson More Time?

This is a key question for Christian Horner at the Japanese GP. Should Lawson have been given more time to improve, especially since even Verstappen found the car challenging? Red Bull acknowledged “a lot of work to be done with the RB21” on Thursday.

Red Bull has a history of mid-season driver changes, like Daniil Kvyat and Pierre Gasly. But replacing Lawson so early is unusual.

Lawson said after qualifying in China that he felt he didn`t have “time” to improve, referring to the season being underway. Ironically, this statement became literally true.

Lawson had only 11 previous F1 starts with the junior team and had never raced at Albert Park or the Shanghai International Circuit before. He does have experience at Suzuka from racing in Japan`s Super Formula in 2023 and finished 11th at Suzuka in 2023 for AlphaTauri, ahead of Tsunoda.

Bahrain, the next race after Japan, is where Lawson first tested the RB21 in pre-season.

Has a Driver Been Dropped This Quickly Before?

While Formula 1 has seen many situations in its 75 years, dropping a driver so early in a season is rare.

Yuji Ide had the shortest full-time F1 drive in recent times. The rookie lost his FIA superlicence after four races with Super Aguri in 2006 and never raced in F1 again.

More recently, Nyck de Vries lasted 10 races in 2023 for Racing Bulls before being replaced by Daniel Ricciardo.

In 2019, Red Bull swapped Pierre Gasly for Alex Albon after Gasly`s 12 races for the senior team.

Why Lawson Was Chosen Over Tsunoda Initially?

On December 19, Red Bull announced Lawson as Verstappen`s teammate.

It was clear Red Bull was moving on from Sergio Perez, despite his contract, and that Lawson, not Tsunoda, would replace him.

Red Bull often promotes drivers from their junior program. Lawson was the seventh driver in 16 years to be promoted internally. However, choosing Lawson over Tsunoda was debated.

Lawson debuted in F1 in 2023, replacing Daniel Ricciardo at AlphaTauri when Ricciardo injured his hand.

Lawson performed well in 2023, scoring points in Singapore and finishing just outside the points twice in 11th place.

He replaced Ricciardo again for the last six races of 2024 but was out-qualified 4-2 by Tsunoda, who also scored more points.

Red Bull believed Lawson had the strength to partner Verstappen, whose high level sets a tough standard.

Lawson`s close performance to Tsunoda suggested potential for growth with more experience.

Why Tsunoda Now and Not Earlier?

If Tsunoda is now ready, why wasn`t he chosen instead of Lawson initially? Is this change only because of Lawson`s struggles, or has Tsunoda`s improved performance changed Red Bull`s view?

Tsunoda had already raced 87 times for Racing Bulls over four seasons when Lawson was promoted in December. It`s unclear what significantly changed in three months and two more races to alter their assessment of Tsunoda.

How Will Tsunoda Perform?

Craig Slater from Sky Sports News: “It will be tough for Tsunoda. He hasn`t had pre-season testing in the Red Bull car, but it`s his home race, and he has expressed his desire for this opportunity. Let`s see what he can do.”

Tsunoda has started this season strongly, with three top-10 qualifying results and good race performances in a surprisingly competitive Racing Bulls car. Helmut Marko, Red Bull advisor, noted that “Yuki is a different Yuki” compared to previous years.

Tsunoda still has ties to Honda, but Honda is switching to Aston Martin engines after this season.

Have Red Bull`s initial reservations about Tsunoda disappeared? Or are they simply trying the next available option?

Horner said Tsunoda`s “experience will be very beneficial in helping to develop the current car,” suggesting his experience is better suited to a car that isn`t performing as expected.

What If Tsunoda Doesn`t Perform Better?

This is another question Horner will likely face.

Unlike Lawson, Tsunoda won`t have pre-season testing in the Red Bull car. He will jump straight into Practice One at Suzuka. He will have simulator time at the team`s UK base before Japan.

Despite more F1 experience, Tsunoda is less familiar with the main Red Bull team than Lawson, who has been a reserve driver for years.

Lawson has driven more Red Bull cars in tests than Tsunoda, whose only Red Bull test was a single day in Abu Dhabi after the season, where Horner said Tsunoda performed well.

What Will Verstappen Think?

Slater noted, “It`s going to be interesting to hear Max`s perspective. Will he see it as pragmatic or question Red Bull`s decision-making?”

Verstappen`s public opinion is not yet known, but his Instagram activity has hinted at his views.

On the morning of the announcement, Verstappen`s account “liked” a post by former F1 driver Giedo van der Garde criticizing Red Bull`s decision and supporting Lawson.

Van der Garde`s post called the move “bullying or a panic move” rather than about “high athlete achievements.” He felt Red Bull “crushed his spirit” after giving Lawson only two races.

Red Bull stated the change was made out of “duty of care to protect and develop Liam.”

Van der Garde`s post encouraged Lawson to “trust yourself, get your head up, prove them wrong.”

Gasly and Oscar Piastri also “liked” Van der Garde`s post.

While the context of Verstappen`s “like” is unclear, he showed support for Lawson during the Chinese GP weekend, despite their pace difference.

Verstappen told De Telegraaf that the pace difference between teammates is smaller in other teams, suggesting the Red Bull car is very difficult to drive. He believed Lawson would be faster in the Racing Bulls car, which he felt is easier to drive.

Verstappen cryptically commented on Racing Bulls` strong start to the season to Sky Sports Italy, saying they are “very close to me. Maybe that also says something, but yeah, I don`t know.”

Why Didn`t Red Bull Sign a More Experienced Driver?

Red Bull did sign an experienced driver – Sergio Perez.

However, Perez`s two-year contract extension in June didn`t improve his performance. He struggled with the car and lost confidence, scoring only nine points in the last eight races and no podiums in the final 19 events. This performance impacted Red Bull`s constructors` title chances.

By re-signing Perez, Red Bull missed the chance to hire Carlos Sainz, their former junior driver, who was available after leaving Ferrari.

Horner cryptically explained to Sky Sports News that they considered “various criteria and dynamics” in their decision.

Bringing back Daniel Ricciardo to Racing Bulls as a backup plan also didn`t work out, as Tsunoda outperformed Ricciardo before Lawson replaced Ricciardo after the Singapore GP.

Max Verstappen`s Red Bull Teammates

Why Have Many Drivers Struggled as Verstappen`s Teammate?

Tsunoda will be Verstappen`s sixth teammate at Red Bull in 10 seasons.

After Ricciardo left for Renault in 2019, Red Bull`s attempts with Gasly and Albon lasted only 12 and 26 races.

Perez was brought in from 2021, and this worked well initially as Red Bull became title contenders again. However, from mid-2023, the car`s characteristics caused Perez difficulties.

The RB21 car is new for 2025, but Lawson also found it challenging.

Lawson told Sky Sports F1 that driving an F1 car requires “100 percent confidence.” He felt he was missing the “window” to get the most out of the car and needed to “get a handle” on it.

Is Red Bull`s Car Designed Only for Verstappen?

This question is often asked. However, Red Bull engineers aim to create the fastest car possible for everyone.

Red Bull`s challenge is greater now as McLaren and other teams have become more competitive after Red Bull`s previous dominance.

Horner told Sky Sports F1 that Verstappen prefers a car with a “very positive front-end” and “a very sharp turn-in” to be fast.