Red Bull replaces Liam Lawson after poor performance in F1
- Liam Lawson's F1 performance has struggled, resulting in his replacement.
- Yuki Tsunoda will take over Lawson's seat at Red Bull, starting at his home race in Japan.
- The decision was made to enhance support for Max Verstappen's title chase.
In Australia, a significant change occurred in the Formula 1 landscape when Liam Lawson was replaced by Yuki Tsunoda just two races into the 2025 F1 season. The decision by Red Bull Racing followed a disappointing start for Lawson, who failed to score points in both the Australian and Chinese Grands Prix, raising considerable concerns within the team. This early-season shake-up came as Red Bull made it clear their priority was to support Max Verstappen in his pursuit of a fifth consecutive world title. The team principal Christian Horner indicated a possible swap after seeing Lawson's struggles, which included a crash and consistently low qualifying positions. Lawson's promotion from the junior team, Racing Bulls, to the main Red Bull team was seen as a bold move, especially since he had only competed in 11 previous Formula 1 races. However, the early signs were troubling, showcasing that the New Zealander was unable to adapt to the pressure and performance expectations at the top level. Helmut Marko, a senior advisor at Red Bull, expressed that Lawson's confidence was significantly shaken, impacting his performance on the track, and resulting in the team's decision to opt for Tsunoda's experience. Following the decision, there was controversy surrounding Lawson's axing, with fans and critics questioning the timing and reasoning behind it. Max Verstappen's perceived dissatisfaction with the swap only added fuel to the fire, as he relied on strong partnerships within the team to enhance his championship bid. Marko acknowledged Verstappen's unhappiness but reassured the decisions were made strategically to bolster both individual and team performance. The anticipated announcement of the driver swap was expected shortly after the Chinese Grand Prix, with Lawson expected to return to Racing Bulls. The dynamics of the Red Bull team have changed as they adapt to this early driver exchange, hoping that Tsunoda's prior experience will prove beneficial in upcoming races, starting with Tsunoda's home race in Japan on April 6. The overarching question now remains whether Lawson can rebuild his career after this setback, akin to other drivers like Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon who also faced similar challenges.