In a shocking move, Red Bull has dropped Liam Lawson after just two races, making it one of the most ruthless driver decisions in Formula 1 history. The 23-year-old New Zealander will return to Racing Bulls, swapping seats with Yuki Tsunoda, who will take his place at Red Bull from the next race in Japan. The decision, made by Red Bull’s senior management, including team principal Christian Horner, is expected to be officially announced later this week.
Red Bull has long been known for its aggressive driver management, but Lawson’s demotion has stunned the F1 world. The decision follows a poor start to the season for Lawson, who qualified 18th and crashed out in Australia before finishing 14th and 12th in the Chinese Grand Prix. His average qualifying deficit to teammate Max Verstappen was 0.88 seconds, while Verstappen finished second in Australia and fourth in China.
Why Was Lawson Dropped?
Lawson’s promotion to Red Bull came after the team decided to pay off Sergio Perez, despite the Mexican having two years left on his contract. Red Bull had chosen Lawson over Tsunoda for the vacant seat, citing his mental toughness and potential for improvement. However, after just two races, the team reversed course, believing Lawson’s performances were not strong enough.
The decision also raises questions about Red Bull’s management. Horner was responsible for extending Perez’s contract in 2023 despite the driver’s struggles, only to later terminate it at a significant financial cost. Red Bull’s handling of the situation has led to widespread criticism, with some suggesting the team is failing to address deeper issues with their car rather than focusing solely on driver performance.
Tsunoda Steps Up Amid Controversy
Tsunoda, who has been with Red Bull’s junior team since 2021, had previously been overlooked for promotion. However, when asked in China if he would accept the Red Bull seat, he responded enthusiastically, saying, “Yeah, 100%. The car is faster.” In contrast, Lawson remained defiant, stating that he had beaten Tsunoda in junior categories and in F1.
Verstappen, meanwhile, reportedly believes dropping Lawson is a mistake, arguing that Red Bull’s real issue is the car, not the second driver. He has claimed that the 2025 Red Bull is currently only the fourth-fastest car, behind McLaren, Mercedes, and Ferrari. The car continues to suffer from balance problems that hindered Verstappen last season, where he won just two of the final 14 races before narrowly securing his fourth world title.
One of the Shortest F1 Stints in History
Lawson’s brief stint at Red Bull now ranks among the shortest in F1 history. While he remains on the grid with Racing Bulls, other drivers have not been as fortunate. In 2006, Yuji Ide was dropped by Super Aguri after just four races, even losing his FIA super license. More recently, Nyck de Vries lasted only 10 races with AlphaTauri before being replaced mid-season by Daniel Ricciardo.
Red Bull’s decision to drop Lawson so abruptly has left many questioning their driver selection strategy. With Tsunoda now stepping into the second Red Bull seat, all eyes will be on whether he can deliver the performances Lawson was unable to— or if Red Bull’s deeper problems will continue to be exposed.
