Source: REUTERS/Edgar Su
[Saba Sports News] A significant personnel change is about to occur in the Red Bull Racing team during the F1 Japanese Grand Prix. Multiple authoritative media outlets have confirmed that Red Bull Racing has decided to replace the underperforming New Zealand driver Liam Lawson before the Japanese Grand Prix, with Yuki Tsunoda from the junior Red Bull team taking his place. Tsunoda will make his debut for the Red Bull Racing team at his home track in Suzuka, just two races after Lawson replaced Sergio Perez to become Max Verstappen’s teammate. The rookie Lawson has faced a disastrous start to the 2025 season, exiting Q1 in qualifying at the Australian Grand Prix and crashing out in the race. In the Chinese Grand Prix, Lawson finished last in the sprint race and only managed to come in 12th in the main race. Such poor performance triggered an emergency meeting among Red Bull’s higher-ups in Dubai, leading to the decision to promote 24-year-old Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda. Interestingly, Tsunoda, a driver developed long-term by Honda, had previously complained about not receiving enough attention from the Red Bull team. Now, due to Lawson’s collapse, he has received the opportunity to be promoted to the Red Bull Racing team, which is quite awkward. This marks another instance of the Red Bull youth training system recycling its drivers. Daniil Kvyat in 2016 and Pierre Gasly in 2019 both experienced similar fates, but Lawson’s swift removal after only two races is unprecedented. Insiders from F1 revealed that Honda, Red Bull’s engine supplier, played a crucial role in this decision.