Red Bull has confirmed that Yuki Tsunada will be taking over from Liam Lawson as the team’s second driver for the rest of the season. This is coming after the 23-year-old had failed to gain any points for the team so far, affecting their performance on the constructors’ standings where they sit at third place.
Lawson moved to Red Bull at the start of the season, replacing Sergio Perez whose contract had to be cut short for failing to gain points for the team. Following the announcement, Lawson will now move to Red Bull’s second team, Racing Bulls, filling the vacuum left by Tsunada’s departure.
Tsunoda was considered the first choice to replace Perez at the end of last season, due to his affiliation with the team and also his personal accomplishments. So it came as a surprise to many when Lawson was chosen instead.
According to Red Bull’s team boss, Christian Horner, they had watched Lawson struggle with the in the first two races and the decision to let him go was a “sporting” one: “It has been difficult to see Liam struggle with the RB21 at the first two races and as a result we have collectively taken the 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.” He also noted that Red Bull has a sense of care and responsibility towards Lawson, which is why he was sent to Racing Bulls, so that he can develop in “an environment and (with) a team he knows very well”.
Lawson failed to finish in his first outing with Red Bull at the Australian GP. He did not fare better at the Chinese GP where he finished 18th. So far, only Max Verstappen has been gaining points for the team, a situation the outfit is strongly looking to change.
Tsunoda’s performance has not been any better than the Australian’s, having gained 0 points this season, but Horner believes he has the wealth of experience to help the team build their car, and he is expected to be behind the wheels of the RB21 at the next race in Japan next month.
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