Officieel: Red Bull vervangt Lawson door Tsunoda voor de Japanse F1 GP
Japan’s Yuki Tsunoda is promoted to join Max Verstappen at Red Bull Racing. His first race will take place in Japan at the F1 Grand Prix, starting on April 4. Red Bull Racing has announced that Liam Lawson has been removed from his position and replaced by Tsunoda, confirming rumors that circulated just two weekends into the F1 season.
Tsunoda, 24, will step in for the struggling New Zealander at his home Grand Prix next week in Suzuka. This change comes as Lawson will revert back to the RB team, where he competed last season.
Christian Horner, team principal of Red Bull, stated: “It has been difficult to witness Liam’s struggles with the RB21 in the first two races, and therefore we have collectively decided to make an early switch. Our ambitions for the 2025 season are to retain the World Drivers’ Championship and reclaim the World Constructors’ title, making this a purely sporting decision.”
Lawson, 23, who was brought in during the winter to replace Sergio Perez, has faced a challenging start to the 2025 season. He has been eliminated in the first stage of all three qualifying sessions and has not yet scored any points.
Meanwhile, Verstappen is currently second in the world title race with 36 points, trailing early season leader Lando Norris from McLaren by eight points. Horner added, “We have a duty of care to protect and develop Liam. Given such a tough start, it makes sense to act quickly so that Liam can gain experience as he continues his F1 career with Racing Bulls, a team and environment he knows well.”
Tsunoda has demonstrated strong performance during both race weekends this season. He secured 12th place in Australia and finished just outside the points in Shanghai due to a flawed two-stop pit strategy from RB.
Having made his Formula One debut with AlphaTauri in 2021, Tsunoda became the first Japanese driver on the grid since Kamui Kobayashi in 2014. He is now the latest driver to team up with Verstappen at Red Bull Racing, becoming the fifth teammate since Daniel Ricciardo left at the end of the 2018 season.
Following a difficult start to the 2025 F1 season, Lawson has been removed from Red Bull Racing after just two races.
