Red Bull introduced that Liam Lawson has been dropped and changed by Yuki Tsunoda, confirming days of hypothesis following disappointing performances within the first two F1 races of the season.
Tsunoda will step in for the New Zealander beginning at his house Japanese Grand Prix subsequent week in Suzuka, Red Bull mentioned in a press release.
The 24-year-old Tsunoda strikes up from the Racing Bulls (RB) sister staff to associate four-time world champion Max Verstappen, with Lawson returning to RB, the place he raced final season.
Red Bull staff principal Christian Horner mentioned, “It has been tough watching Liam struggle with the RB21 in the first two races, and as a result, we’ve made the collective decision to make an early switch.”
“We came into the 2025 season with two ambitions: to retain the world drivers’ championship and to reclaim the world constructors’ title, and this is a purely sporting decision.”
Lawson, 23, who was drafted in from RB within the winter to exchange Sergio Perez, has endured a troublesome begin to the season and life at one of many prime groups on the grid.
He has been knocked out within the first stage of all three qualifying classes and has but to attain some extent.
Verstappen, within the different Red Bull, is second within the title race with 36 factors, eight behind early-season chief Lando Norris of McLaren.
“We have a duty of care to protect and develop Liam, and together we see that after such a difficult start, it makes sense to act quickly so Liam can gain experience as he continues his F1 career with Racing Bulls, an environment and a team he knows very well,” Horner added.
Tsunoda has proven tempo in each race weekends of the season. He was twelfth within the season opener in Melbourne and solely completed out of the factors Sunday in Shanghai due to RB’s flawed two-stop pit technique.
Tsunoda made his Formula One debut with AlphaTauri in 2021, turning into the primary Japanese driver on the grid since Kamui Kobayashi in 2014.
“We acknowledge there is a lot of work to be done with the RB21, and Yuki’s experience will prove highly beneficial in helping to develop the current car,” Horner mentioned.
“We welcome him to the team and are looking forward to seeing him behind the wheel of the RB21.”
Tsunoda started racing karts on the age of 4 in his native Kanagawa, simply exterior Tokyo.
He stands simply 1.61 meters tall (5 ft 3 inches), and his diminutive body compelled AlphaTauri engineers to develop a customized pedal equipment to make him extra snug within the cockpit.
Tsunoda was once identified for his four-letter outbursts on the staff radio however displayed newfound self-control final yr, which helped his performances.
Away from racing, he tries to calm down by snowboarding and enjoying video video games, which he describes as “training” for protecting his cool on the observe.
“His progress last year, and more recently from the very start of 2025, has been nothing less than sensational,” Laurent Mekies, staff principal of RB, mentioned in a press release Thursday.
He added: “Everyone here at (the team) is looking forward to working hard with Liam to give him the best environment possible to shine in our car and express the talent we all know he has.”
Lawson will associate with France’s Isack Hadjar at RB.
Source: www.dailysabah.com