The change is all but confirmed. As Motorsport.com revealed on Sunday, Red Bull began considering a change to its driver line-up even before the Shanghai race – with Yuki Tsunoda emerging as the frontrunner to replace the struggling Liam Lawson.
Discussions have since progressed following meetings in recent days, with the move now all but guaranteed – the official announcement is expected by the end of this week.
But is it right to take such a step just two races into the season? Our writers from the international editions of Motorsport.com have their say.
“For Tsunoda, it’s an opportunity of a lifetime”
– Ken Tanaka, Motorsport.com Japan
It’s hard to say whether Red Bull’s decision to replace Lawson after just two grands prix to bring in Tsunoda is the right one for the team.
But for Tsunoda himself it is the opportunity of a lifetime. He’s about to step into a top team car, something that not many Formula 1 drivers get to experience. Yes, it may be a difficult car to drive, but Verstappen has proven that results can still be delivered.
There will be no excuses. If the team chooses him as its new driver, Tsunoda will have to deliver results with this car. More than that, he must deliver.
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
This is also a long-held dream for Japanese F1 fans. Many Japanese drivers have competed in F1 over the years, but none have ever had the opportunity to drive for a top team. Now that it looks like that chance has finally arrived, Tsunoda will have to make the most of it.
His nation will want to see the Japanese flag on the podium – and in the middle of it. And if that day comes, tears of joy will be shed by many Japanese F1 fans around the world.
Tsunoda, we’re counting on you now.
“The main problem at Red Bull is the car, not the driver”
– Ronald Vording, Motorsport.com Netherlands
Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Sergio Perez and Lawson: the list of team-mates who couldn’t keep up with Max Verstappen in the seat next to him keeps growing. For Red Bull to add Lawson to the list after just two grands prix feels harsh, but the signals were clear in the Shanghai paddock – one of them being Christian Horner saying the team didn’t need to wait for tracks Lawson was familiar with.
The real problem for Red Bull, however, is the car. The RB21 is (again) difficult to drive, especially for a driver who doesn’t have the same driving style as Verstappen. Add to that the fact that it’s extremely difficult to match Verstappen’s sheer pace in a similar car, and you know it’s the toughest seat in F1 right now.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
The promotion of Tsunoda makes sense for two reasons. Firstly, the Japanese driver couldn’t have done more to earn the promotion and secondly, the fact that Honda are reportedly paying for it makes this move even more interesting from a financial perspective. It’s also a nice way to end the Red Bull-Honda partnership in 2025, but none of that takes away from the most likely outcome: adding another name to the list in a few months’ time…
“Correcting one mistake with another might be the only option left”
– Oleg Karpov, Motorsport.com International Editor
Christian Horner talked about data on Sunday evening in Shanghai, when he spoke to the media after the race. Lawson’s fate had almost been decided by then, with sources suggesting that the option of swapping him for Tsunoda had been seriously considered even before the start of the race. Lawson could have bought himself more time with a miraculous performance on Sunday afternoon – but instead he still struggled to find the pace.
It seems that swapping them now is something like correcting one mistake with another. After all, the logic of Red Bull’s decision to promote Lawson instead of Tsunoda over the winter wasn’t really clear – with the New Zealander having only 11 F1 grands prix under his belt. But Horner took the risk anyway, hoping that Liam’s natural ability to withstand pressure will be a massive help. Now it seems experience may have helped too.
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
Putting Tsunoda in the car now – without testing, with almost no lead time, and for his home race, which comes with added pressure – isn’t ideal. He’ll inevitably struggle, like all of Verstappen’s previous team-mates. But at the same time, Red Bull has no other option.
If the data shows that Lawson is simply too far away, and if the engineers see that he’s going to take forever to get to grips with the RB21, then there’s no point in waiting any longer. If they do it now, they have to be convinced that Lawson simply won’t be able to improve any time soon. Bringing in Tsunoda is also a risk. But it might be the only option in hope of a quick improvement. And if Red Bull still doesn’t want to give up on a constructors’ championship, it should act fast.
It is tough for Lawson, no doubt. But he knew what he signed up for.
“Brutal for Lawson, but Red Bull must act to deliver fifth title for Max”
– Christian Nimmervoll, Motorsport.com Germany
It is very harsh on Lawson. To not give him a chance to bounce back at least in Suzuka, on the track he knows and has been successful on in the past, is really brutal. He could have hoped to do better and still convince the Red Bull bosses that he’s the one they can rely on for the future.
But F1 is a complex business and what I hear now is that Honda is increasing the pressure on Red Bull, offering a substantial backing for Tsunoda – and that could have been the factor that tipped the scales in Yuki’s favour.
Liam Lawson, Red Bull Racing, Helmut Marko, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
Of course, he’s done a brilliant job not only at the start of this year, but also for the most part over the last couple of seasons – but it’s going to be an immense task for him. I agree with Ralf Schumacher who says that it’s too risky for Tsunoda to go to Red Bull now – and he has more to lose than to gain from the move, as he hasn’t tested with RB21 and will be asked to perform immediately. However, the Red Bull bosses are free to do whatever they want with their drivers – Verstappen probably excluded – and move them between teams, so even if Tsunoda had wanted to stay at Racing Bulls, he simply doesn’t have a say in the matter.
But Red Bull has to do something if it wants to save 2025 – and deliver another title, if not in the constructors’ championship, but a fifth for Verstappen. It’s a dream for Helmut Marko – and he told me about it yesterday – to get that fifth title with Max, something Red Bull couldn’t do with Sebastian Vettel. It need a second driver to help Verstappen, and it may be clear to the team bosses by now that that driver isn’t Lawson. Tsunoda will be under enormous pressure, but now he’s got no choice but to try and deliver.
“A decision made with the same level of certainty as a bet in the casino”
– Roberto Chinchero, Motorsport.com Italy
Red Bull is at a crossroads, with two scenarios on the horizon: the team must either find a new Verstappen – or drastically change the direction of designing its cars, bringing the “drivability” parameter back among the engineers’ objectives.
Until one of these two solutions materialises, Red Bull will continue to race effectively with one car – or, at best, with one and a half. For now, it looks like Marko’s vision is prevailing: and the team continues to search for a driver who’s capable of handling the RB21 in at least a decent way.
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
Lawson was judged not up to the task after driving the car for one and a half days at the Bahrain test and three practice sessions between Melbourne and Shanghai, tracks he had never previously raced on. But as is often the case with Red Bull, there is no time or patience to try and understand the problems. The extreme solution is simpler and quicker: Lawson out, Tsunoda in. A decision made with the same level of certainty as a bet in the casino. It might work. It might not work… who knows.
Good luck to Yuki. He will need it.
In this article
Motorsport.com staff writers
Formula 1
Liam Lawson
Yuki Tsunoda
Red Bull Racing
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