Red Bull reportedly makes the call: Tsunoda to replace Lawson!

Red Bull have reportedly decided to drop Liam Lawson from their senior team after just two races, promoting Yuki Tsunoda in his place.

According to Dutch newspaper De Limburger, the decision was made following a high-level meeting in Dubai this week involving team principal Christian Horner and advisor Helmut Marko.

Lawson’s disappointing performances in the opening rounds of the 2025 season – crashing out in Australia and struggling at the back of the grid in China – have led to a whirlwind of speculation regarding Lawson’s fate.

Last weekend in Shanghai, Horner gave nothing away on the Kiwi’s situation but admitted that the team would sift through a “stack of data” in a bid to analyse and understand Lawson’s performance deficit.

Lawson’s debut season with Red Bull has been a nightmare. The 23-year-old Kiwi qualified 18th and crashed out in Australia, then hit rock bottom in China, posting the slowest times in both Sprint and Grand Prix qualifying.

Despite Horner and Marko banking on his potential—highlighted during his 2024 Racing Bulls stint—the data hasn’t translated to results. Verstappen, meanwhile, has amassed 36 points, while Lawson remains pointless.

Honda’s Influence and Red Bull’s Dilemma

Red Bull’s decision at the end of last to slot Lawson into Sergio Perez’s vacated seat had already been a contentious issue, with De Limburger reporting that Honda was willing to pay the Milton Keynes-based outfit an additional €10 million to guarantee Tsunoda a seat in 2025.

The Japanese manufacturer allegedly already funds Tsunoda’s Racing Bulls drive with another €10 million, but its initial bid to place him at Red Bull was rejected in favor of Lawson.

However, it is believed that Red Bull has re-approached Honda, asking how much it would be willing to pay for Tsunoda to finally make the jump.

Allegedly, Honda has agreed to contribute ‘several millions’ more, making the move financially viable for the team.

A Harsh Verdict on Lawson?

The timing feels harsh for Lawson, who’s raced unfamiliar tracks and grappled with a tricky RB21 that even Verstappen has struggled with.

Former Red Bull driver David Coulthard, commenting to Channel 4 on Lawson’s predicament, believes the 23-year-old should be given one more chance to prove his mettle.

"I feel for him, but this is not a put-your-arm-around-the-shoulder business. This is a lap-time business," Coulthard said.

"And the two opportunities he’s had, he hasn’t delivered. He’s got a race to try and pull it back, and he’s got, in my mind, Japan, where he’s raced prior to Formula 1, to show all the skills that got him the seat in the first place.

"But if it doesn’t work there, I think the writing’s on the wall, and that’s tough. We all want to see these guys fulfil their dreams, but you’ve got to deliver."

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As for Tsunoda, if Lawson’s demotion is confirmed, the Japanese charger would finally get his long-awaited shot at Red Bull after years of being overlooked.

Whether he can thrive in the high-pressure environment alongside Verstappen remains to be seen, but Red Bull may feel that Tsunoda’s experience might be a safer bet to bolster the team’s chances in F1’s Constructors’ Championship.

Read also:

• Horner: No ‘defeatist’ mindset at Red Bull despite struggles

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