Japan’s Yuki Tsunoda has been appointed as the latest driver to join the renowned F1 Red Bull team, where he will be driving alongside world champion Max Verstappen, replacing Liam Lawson who has been let go, the Red Bull Racing team confirmed. This decision comes just two race weekends into the F1 season.

Tsunoda, 24, who has risen from the RB team, will start his new role at his home Japanese Grand Prix next week in Suzuka. In contrast, Lawson, a 23-year-old who was brought in from RB in the winter to replace Sergio Perez, has faced a harsh beginning to his 2025 season. So far, he has been eliminated in the first stage of all three qualifying sessions and has yet to earn any points.

Christian Horner, the principal of the Red Bull team, stated, “It has been challenging to witness Liam’s struggles with the RB21 at the initial two races. Hence, we made the group decision to switch early. Our aims coming into the 2025 season were two-coiled; to defend the World Drivers’ Championship and to regain the World Constructors’ title. This is a sporting decision” .

The swap, Horner added, accommodates the best interest of all parties. “We are committed to safeguarding and nurturing Liam’s career; given such a difficult start, it’s prudent to respond swiftly so Liam can acquire experience with Racing Bulls, a familiar team and environment to him”.

Tsunoda demonstrated potential at both races of the season so far. Despite being 12th in Australia and finishing outside of the points in Shanghai on Sunday due to RB’s flawed two-stop pit strategy, Tsunoda’s performance has been positive. He joined Formula One with AlphaTauri in 2021, marking the first time a Japanese driver had been on the grid since Kamui Kobayashi in 2014.

Tsunoda will be the fifth teammate for Verstappen at Red Bull Racing since Daniel Ricciardo’s departure at the end of the 2018 season.

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2025/3/27/tsunoda-to-replace-lawson-on-f1-red-bull-team-from-japanese-gp?traffic_source=rss