In a surprising mid-season shake-up, Yuki Tsunoda will be stepping up to partner Max Verstappen at Red Bull for his home race in Japan.
This decision comes after the team abruptly dropped Liam Lawson following just two races, according to reports from Dutch newspaper Telegraaf and French broadcaster Canal+.
A Big Break for Tsunoda
For Tsunoda, this promotion marks a significant milestone.
The 24-year-old, who has been racing for Red Bull’s sister team, RB (formerly AlphaTauri), will now get the chance to prove himself on one of the biggest stages in Formula 1—his home Grand Prix at Suzuka from April 4-6.
Given his experience and solid performances, this opportunity could be a career-defining moment.
Tough Times for Lawson
On the flip side, Liam Lawson’s brief stint with Red Bull has been anything but smooth.
The 23-year-old New Zealander was brought in over the winter as a replacement for Sergio Perez but has struggled to make an impact in his first three races.
He has been eliminated in Q1 in every qualifying session so far and has yet to score a single point, while Verstappen sits second in the standings with 36 points, trailing McLaren’s Lando Norris by just eight.
Tsunoda’s Stronger Start
Tsunoda, in contrast, has shown glimpses of real potential.
He finished 12th in Australia and was unlucky to miss out on points in Shanghai due to a questionable two-stop pit strategy by RB.
His consistency and experience since making his F1 debut with AlphaTauri in 2021 seem to have convinced Red Bull that he deserves a shot in the main team—at least for this race.
Red Bull Keeps Quiet, Horner Hints at Change
Red Bull has yet to make an official statement regarding the swap, declining to comment when approached by AFP.
However, team principal Christian Horner’s recent remarks suggested that Lawson’s position was under review.
“I think Liam’s had a tough couple of races, a tough weekend here.
We’ll have a good look at it,” Horner said after the Chinese Grand Prix.
His tone was notably different when discussing Tsunoda, calling him an “experienced driver” who is “doing a great job.”
Is It Too Soon to Judge?
With just a handful of races into the 2025 season, some might argue that dropping Lawson this early is premature.
Others might say that Red Bull, known for its ruthless driver decisions, is simply making the call based on performance.
Either way, all eyes will be on Suzuka to see if Tsunoda can seize this golden opportunity.