Red Bull Racing has chosen to make a swift driver change, replacing Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda as the teammate of reigning Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen after only two races of the season. This marks a rapid response to Lawson’s challenges on the circuit. The New Zealand driver, despite his talent, did not manage to score any points, encountered a crash during the season’s opening Australian Grand Prix, and also struggled during the Chinese Grand Prix, where he qualified last.
Tsunoda is set to step up from Racing Bulls, Red Bull’s secondary team, just in time for the Japanese Grand Prix, his home race, taking on the crucial position next to Verstappen. With this change, Lawson gains the opportunity to develop further, moving to Racing Bulls where he will drive alongside novice racer Isack Hadjar. This scenario reflects the intensely competitive nature of Formula 1 and Red Bull’s realization that they may have too hastily chosen Lawson for the senior team.
Christian Horner, Red Bull team principal, expressed that the team’s decision came due to difficult circumstances observed with Lawson’s performance in the first two races. The aim remains clear: holding onto the world drivers’ championship while retrieving the constructors’ title. Tsunoda’s expertise is expected to aid significantly in improving the team’s RB21 car.
In light of the team’s strategy objectives and the pressing need for more competitive performances, they believe Tsunoda brings the experience needed to enhance the vehicle’s development. Acknowledging the need to foster Lawson’s potential in a conducive environment was a priority, emphasized Horner, as they allow Lawson to continue his journey in F1 within a familiar setting.
The move to replace Lawson stands out in contrast to Max Verstappen’s former teammate, Sergio Perez, who maintained his position through challenges, earning a contract extension amid a struggling 2024 season before ultimately being replaced. This underscores a shift towards ensuring immediate results, aligning driver strengths with team ambitions swiftly.
Lawson candidly admitted to the difficulties experienced managing the RB21 car, revealing its delicacy in setup demands—a sentiment echoed by Perez from the former year as Red Bull’s development suited Verstappen’s distinct driving preference. Meanwhile, the newly appointed Tsunoda, who joined F1 in 2021 and secured his best championship finish last year, faces his first opportunity with Red Bull’s main team. While not yet achieving a podium finish, his rising development has not gone unnoticed.
Tsunoda’s rise coincides with a backdrop of complications involving his personal link with Honda, which will no longer be Red Bull’s engine provider after this season, with Ford stepping in by 2026, while Honda partners with Aston Martin next year. Despite this, Racing Bulls team principal Laurent Mekies celebrates Tsunoda’s progress and new position at Red Bull as a testament to his substantial growth.
As Tsunoda becomes Verstappen’s sixth Red Bull teammate over a decade, the decision to adjust drivers midseason marks a first since the switch of Pierre Gasly for Alex Albon in 2019. Verstappen continues to shine as the sole race winner and podium presence for Red Bull over recent seasons, maintaining the main source of the team’s success and points acquisition.