Liam Lawson is on the verge of being demoted by the Red Bulls. Photo: AFP
Image: AFP
Yuki Tsunoda will allegedly replace Red Bulls’ senior driver Liam Lawson after just two races into the 2025 Formula One season.
The Red Bulls have not confirmed the move yet, but speculation suggests that Tsunoda will replace Lawson for the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix.
This comes after a Red Bull meeting in Dubai earlier this week, which likely discussed their driver options as they chase both the constructors and world drivers’ title this year.
It is understood that Red Bull are to make an announcement later this week.
Lawson, 23 was elevated from the junior Racing Bulls team and replaced veteran Sergio Perez as the No 2 driver at Red Bull, alongside defending champion Mac Verstappen, this season, but has suffered a horrid start to the season in Australia and China, leaving doubt in team principal Christian Horner.
Horner has always made it vocal that they are open to swapping drivers mid-season and use the Racing Bulls as their feeder team.
Lawson could not get going in Australia due to some poor strategic choices on the team’s end, which climaxed with a late crash on race-day. Lawson started that GP from the pits.
Little changed in his second race, as he started from the pit lane again in China. The New Zealander found himself at the bottom of the order in 20th for qualifying in both Sprint and main race, too. He would go on to finish the race in 16th.
Verstappen, meanwhile, has finished second and fourth in those races, respectively.
Lawson’s team said they are not aware if Red Bull confirmed the decision to swap him with Tsunoda, New Zealand Herald newspaper reported.
It’s understood that the 23-year-old is finding it difficult to adapt to the RB21, which has been described as a “very aggressive” race car, suited more to Verstappen’s driving style.
Verstappen is chasing his fifth consecutive title this season, while Horner and Co pursue McLaren in a bid to retake the constructors title, which they won in 2022 and 2023.