Yuki Tsunoda replaces Liam Lawson at Red Bull before the Japanese Grand Prix

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Red Bull replaced Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda ahead of the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix. The decision was made during a board meeting in Dubai and Lawson learned about it via media. Red Bull acted early to boost their Constructors’ Championship. Honda supports Tsunoda’s promotion, and the change aims to improve team performance.

In a stunning twist, Red Bull has opted to replace Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda before the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix. The move, reportedly made at a board meeting in Dubai, was a shock to many, including Lawson himself, who was told of his demotion via the media. It follows Lawson’s inability to bring points in his initial races, leading Red Bull to act early in the season to boost their Constructors’ Championship hopes.

As per the latest reports, Red Bull’s management—Christian Horner, Helmut Marko, and Oliver Mintzlaff—gathered in Dubai to deliberate on the driver lineup following the Shanghai Grand Prix.

With Lawson notching zero points in several races, the team was under increasing pressure to improve performance in the second seat. In the meantime, Honda, one of Red Bull’s major partners, had been keen to promote Tsunoda and reportedly signed up to offer further financial support for his transfer to the senior team. The decision is in Honda’s strategic interests, particularly with the Japanese Grand Prix on the horizon. The timing is optimal for exposure for the brand, especially at promotional events in Tokyo leading up to the race weekend.

It is said that Liam Lawson was not formally informed of his demotion before the news was leaked out to the media. Dutch journalist Jackie Martens, writing for the newspaper Limburger, broke the news of the shake-up, leaving Red Bull in disarray and trying to manage the fallout.

For Lawson, this last-minute change is certainly a hard pill to swallow. Having been viewed as a bright up-and-comer on Red Bull’s roster, his demotion to Racing Bulls (formerly AlphaTauri) raises questions about his long-term future within the team. Several young drivers have found it hard to return to form after being dropped by Red Bull, and Lawson now needs to show himself again in a less competitive vehicle.

Yuki Tsunoda has been widely regarded as one of the most promising young talents, and promotion to Red Bull is a credit to his enhanced performances in previous seasons. With that said, taking the second Red Bull spot is a gigantic responsibility. Historically, the second car has been a battleground for drivers with names such as Pierre Gasly, Alexander Albon, and Sergio Perez falling short of filling the shoes of Max Verstappen.

If Tsunoda can produce solid performances, it will prove Red Bull’s decision right. But if he experiences the same issues as Lawson, it may suggest that there is a deeper problem with the car itself, not the driver operating it.

Also read: “I think Liam still has potential”: Christian Horner confirms Red Bull changes for Liam Lawson’s car

This mid-season surprise move indicates the high-risk nature of Formula 1 and Red Bull’s aggressive team management style. With the teams preparing for the Japanese Grand Prix, all eyes will be on Tsunoda making his Red Bull debut and how Lawson manages after being brought back to Racing Bulls. Will it prove to be a masterstroke by Red Bull, or will it turn into a disaster? The answers will become apparent on the Suzuka circuit.

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