In a move that has sent ripples through the F1 community, Red Bull Racing announced the demotion of Liam Lawson after just two races in the 2025 season as Christian Horner and co. made a big call. The decision paves the way for Yuki Tsunoda to partner with Max Verstappen starting from the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, with Lawson returning to Racing Bulls after spells there in 2023 and 2024.
Lawson’s reaction
Speaking to Sky Sports F1 in Tokyo on Wednesday, Lawson expressed his surprise and disappointment at the decision by Red Bull:
“It was definitely a shock, honestly. It’s not something that I saw coming. The discussions we were having as well, I think, weren’t really leaning in this direction, so it was definitely not something that I sort of expected.”
Lawson also admitted to feeling frustrated by the limited opportunity he had to prove himself at the highest level of the sport.
Car problems in pre-season testing and at Albert Park certainly didn’t help, and the one weekend where he had a clean run was in China. Shanghai was a Sprint, leaving him with only one practice session ahead of qualifying.
“Honestly, yes. Obviously, I would have loved more time. And I felt like with more time, especially going to places that I’d been before… it was a tough start. We had a rocky testing. We had a rocky first weekend in Melbourne with practice. And then obviously China was a Sprint.”
The 23-year-old New Zealander emphasised that his struggles were not due to an inherent issue with his driving style but rather the need for more time to adapt to the Red Bull RB21 car.
“The car is hard to drive. But we were going through a process of making that adjustment. For me, it’s honestly time. But the way that the weekend went, in Formula 1, in a pre-season test, you’re driving all day and you have loads of time to adjust and things like that. So honestly, a lack of time in the car is really the biggest thing for me that made it hard to adjust.”
Christian Horner’s perspective
Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner acknowledged the difficulty of the decision and took responsibility for the rapid change:
“Of course, it’s horrible because you’re taking away someone’s dreams and aspirations, but sometimes you’ve got to be cruel to be kind, and I think that in this instance, this is not the end for Liam. I was very clear with him, is that it’s a sample of two races. I think that we’ve asked too much of you too soon.”
Horner further elaborated on the reasoning behind the move:
“We have to accept, I think we were asking too much of him too soon. And so this is for him to, again, nurture that talent that we know that he has, back in the Racing Bulls seat, whilst giving Yuki the opportunity and looking to make use of the experience that he has.”
Implications for Red Bull and the 2025 season
The decision to promote Tsunoda comes at a critical time for Red Bull. The team has faced challenges in the opening races of the season, with the RB21 car struggling to match the pace of competitors like McLaren and Mercedes. Tsunoda’s experience and familiarity with Red Bull’s structure are seen as assets that could help improve the car’s performance and overall team results.
As Red Bull prepares for the Japanese Grand Prix, all eyes will be on Tsunoda to see how he adapts to his new role alongside Verstappen. Meanwhile, Lawson’s future remains uncertain, though Horner’s comments suggest that the young driver is still considered a valuable asset within the Red Bull family.
For now, Lawson will return to Racing Bulls (formerly AlphaTauri), with hopes of another opportunity to prove his worth at the highest level of motorsport. His demotion may be a temporary setback, but his talent and determination suggest that his Formula 1 journey is far from over.
