Yuki Tsunoda Replaces Liam Lawson In Red Bull: Why This Change And What Next?

Red Bull Racing have confirmed that Yuki Tsunoda will take Liam Lawson’s place as Max Verstappen’s teammate, starting from the Japanese Grand Prix. The decision comes after Lawson struggled in the opening two races of the 2025 Formula One season. (More Motorsport News)

The 23-year-old New Zealander had previously raced alongside Tsunoda in the latter half of 2024 with the RB team, having stepped in for Daniel Ricciardo. His strong performances during that stint secured him a promotion to Red Bull for 2025, replacing Sergio Perez after his exit from the team.

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With this, Tsunoda became Max Verstappen's sixth teammate at Red Bull Racing over a decade. Following Daniel Ricciardo's departure to Renault in 2019, Red Bull experimented with Pierre Gasly and later Alex Albon, whose tenures lasted 12 and 26 races, respectively.

In 2021, the team recruited Sergio Perez, who provided valuable support during Red Bull's return to championship form. However, by mid-2023, Perez began experiencing recurring issues with the car's handling characteristics, reminiscent of previous challenges faced by Gasly and Albon. ​

A Short-Lived Red Bull Stint

Lawson’s promotion to Red Bull this season came as a result of the team’s decision to terminate Sergio Perez’s contract, despite the Mexican having two years left on his deal. The move was seen as a bold but risky gamble, as Lawson had only raced 11 Grands Prix over two seasons, filling in for Daniel Ricciardo in 2023.

However, his performance in the first two races of 2025 has been disappointing. In Australia, he qualified 18th before crashing out in wet conditions. The struggles continued in China, where he qualified last for both the sprint and Grand Prix, finishing 14th and 12th in the respective races. His average qualifying deficit to teammate Max Verstappen has been 0.88 seconds—a gap that Red Bull deems unacceptable.

Why Tsunoda Over Lawson?

Interestingly, Red Bull had the chance to promote Tsunoda at the start of the season but chose Lawson instead, believing the Japanese driver lacked the mental toughness required to thrive alongside Verstappen. However, after Lawson’s poor start, the team has reversed its stance, deciding that Tsunoda’s four years of experience make him the better choice after all.

Tsunoda himself was open to the idea of driving for Red Bull. When asked in China about a possible promotion, he responded enthusiastically:

"Yeah, why not? Always. In Japan? Yeah, 100%. I mean, the car is faster," Tsunoda told BBC after Chinese GP.

Lawson, on the other hand, remained defiant: "I've raced him for years, raced him in junior categories and beat him – and I did in F1 as well, so he can say whatever he wants."

Red Bull’s Uncertain Future

The sudden swap raises questions about Red Bull’s management strategy. Their handling of driver decisions—from re-signing Perez last year, only to pay him off, to now replacing Lawson with Tsunoda—suggests a lack of long-term planning.

Even Verstappen is reportedly unhappy with the move, believing the real issue is the car, not the second driver. The Dutchman has openly admitted that Red Bull's 2025 challenger is only the fourth-fastest on the grid, trailing McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes.​

F1 Drivers Standings

As of March 27, 2025, following the Chinese Grand Prix, Lando Norris leads the Formula 1 World Championship standings with 44 points. Max Verstappen holds second place with 36 points, closely followed by George Russell at 35 points. Oscar Piastri's recent victory in Shanghai has elevated him to fourth place with 34 points. Kimi Antonelli rounds out the top five with 22 points. ​

F1 Constructors Standings

In the Constructors' Championship, McLaren-Mercedes leads with 78 points, bolstered by strong performances from both Norris and Piastri. Mercedes follows in second place with 57 points, while Red Bull Racing-Honda RBPT holds third with 36 points. Williams-Mercedes and Ferrari are tied for fourth place, each with 17 points.

Notably, disqualifications at the Chinese Grand Prix affected the standings. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc of Ferrari, along with Pierre Gasly of Alpine, were disqualified due to technical infringements, impacting their positions in the championship.