Red Bull Ready to End Liam Lawson Experiment

Liam Lawson’s Red Bull dream is reportedly set to last just two races, with reports indicating that Yuki Tsunoda is poised to replace the Kiwi as Max Verstappen’s teammate. According to Dutch media outlets De Telegraaf and De Limburger, a high-level meeting in Dubai led to the decision to promote Honda-backed Yuki Tsunoda, who is set to take over Liam Lawson’s seat just in time for his home Grand Prix in Japan.

Lawson, the 23-year-old New Zealander who was promoted from Red Bull’s feeder team last season following Sergio Perez’s departure, has struggled to meet expectations during his debut weekends in Australia and China. Having replaced Perez, Lawson has yet to register a point, raising speculation about his future with the team after just two rounds.

In contrast, Tsunoda has started the season on a strong note. He recently secured three points with a sixth-place finish in the Shanghai sprint, highlighting his potential to make an immediate impact. With Verstappen currently second in the 2025 driver standings—trailing McLaren’s Lando Norris by eight points—this driver switch could play a crucial role as Red Bull looks to keep pace with rivals Mercedes, McLaren, and Ferrari.

Tsunoda’s Last Chance

Tsunoda has been part of Red Bull’s junior F1 program since 2019, consistently making a case for promotion by outperforming competitors such as Pierre Gasly, Daniel Ricciardo, and Nyck de Vries. Despite his strong performances, he has been overlooked for the Red Bull seat, as his prickly character has often been cited as a reason for the team’s reluctance to pair him with the equally temperamental Verstappen.

With his contract set to expire after this season, this opportunity provides the Japanese driver with a perfect chance to prove he belongs at the top level and make a strong case for an extension.

As the Japanese Grand Prix approaches, all eyes will be on Yuki Tsunoda to see if he can deliver the consistency and speed needed to complement Verstappen. Meanwhile, Liam Lawson will return to Red Bull’s junior team, hoping to put his struggles behind him and refine his skills for another shot at the main team in the future.