Tsunoda Promoted to Main Team, Lawson Demoted to Racing Bulls

Tsunoda to Main Team, Lawson to Racing Bulls

Red Bull has announced a significant driver change for the upcoming Formula One season. Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda will be promoted to the main Red Bull team, replacing New Zealander Liam Lawson.

Tsunoda, 24, will partner with four-time world champion Max Verstappen starting from the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka International Racing Course on April 6th. This marks a major step up for Tsunoda, who has spent the past five seasons with Red Bull's secondary team, Racing Bulls.

He effectively swaps places with Lawson, who joined Red Bull in the latter part of the 2024 season and was initially chosen to partner Verstappen this year following the departure of Sergio Perez. However, Lawson's performance has fallen short of expectations, with a crash in the opening race in Melbourne and a 12th-place finish in the Chinese Grand Prix.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner explained the decision, stating that Tsunoda's experience will be valuable in developing the current car. He also emphasized that the move is purely sporting, aiming to achieve their ambitions of retaining the world drivers' championship and reclaiming the world constructors' title.

Tsunoda faces a daunting challenge. He will be going up against Verstappen, widely considered one of the sport's greatest talents, in a car that seems specifically tailored to the Dutchman's driving style. Several drivers, including Perez, have lost their seats in the Red Bull team after struggling to match Verstappen's performance. This puts immense pressure on Tsunoda, who has had a mixed start to the season with a 12th and 16th place finish in the first two races.