Red Bull Drop Lawson After Just Two Races
Red Bull have made a shock decision to drop Liam Lawson after just two races, replacing him with Yuki Tsunoda ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix. Lawson, who struggled in his short stint alongside Max Verstappen, will return to Red Bull’s junior team, Racing Bulls. The 23-year-old failed to score points in Australia and China, with poor qualifying performances and a significant gap to Verstappen leading to his swift demotion.
Tsunoda, who has been with the Red Bull-owned junior team since 2021, had originally been overlooked for the seat despite his experience. However, after a strong start to the 2025 season, including a Sprint race sixth-place finish in China, Red Bull have decided to give him the opportunity. Team principal Christian Horner acknowledged Lawson's potential but admitted the pressure had been tough on him, stating, "He's a young guy, we've got a duty to look after him."
This move marks yet another ruthless driver change by Red Bull, who previously dropped both Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon after brief stints alongside Verstappen. It also raises questions about Red Bull’s handling of their second driver role, as Verstappen himself has reportedly suggested that the real issue lies with the car rather than Lawson’s performance.
