Yuki Tsunoda is reportedly set to replace Liam Lawson at Red Bull for the Japanese GP, with the latter having been scathing of his former Racing Bulls team-mate in a recent interview
Liam Lawson might feel the sting of his own words after seemingly being replaced by Yuki Tsunoda at Red Bull.
At just 23, Lawson had been tapped to fill in for Daniel Ricciardo at Racing Bulls for the final six events of the 2024 season, as Tsunoda’s teammate, following a series of lacklustre performances from the Australian. Lawson was subsequently bumped up to team up with Max Verstappen when Red Bull reversed their decision on giving Sergio Perez a new contract.
But his stint with the main team has been less than dreamy, casting doubt over his prospects of carving out a substantial career on the grid come the full 2025 season. A DNF at the Australian GP and a disappointing 16th place in Shanghai have left Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko unimpressed.
Now, reports suggest that Lawson will be swapped out for Tsunoda for the Japanese GP — a case of adding insult to injury considering Lawson’s recent remarks on the Japanese driver. In a candid interview with The Telegraph in China just last week, Lawson said he felt no sympathy for Tsunoda.
He said: “You can’t in this sport, and anyway, if I look back over our career, I was team-mates with him in F3 and I beat him. In Euro Formula I was team-mates with him in New Zealand, and I beat him there.
“And then in F1 last season, I think honestly, if I look at all the times he got promoted instead of me in those early years, then no,” reports the Express. He capped off his comments with: “He’s had his time, now it’s my time.”
Lawson could be in for an embarrassing turn of events. Red Bull has not yet confirmed the move, but Tsunoda has openly expressed his eagerness to take Lawson’s place for his home race, telling reporters: “Yes, why not? [I would race for Red Bull in] Japan, yes, 100 per cent. The car [at Red Bull] is faster, I know that for sure.”
This development follows a reported meeting in Dubai attended by Red Bull chiefs, including team principal Christian Horner. While Lawson’s seasonal debut appeared underwhelming, Tsunoda has shown considerable promise with Racing Bulls, managing to qualify fifth and ninth in Australia and China, along with securing points with a sixth-place finish in Shanghai’s Sprint.
Red Bull were contemplating whether to choose Tsunoda or Lawson as Perez’s successor for the 2025 season, opting for Lawson despite his limited experience of only 11 Grands Prix over two seasons compared to Tsunoda’s four-year stint with the organisation.
As it seems now, Red Bull may be reversing their decision, with an announcement expected soon. And Lawson might have some pride-swallowing to do after his confident assertions took a hit.
The Japanese GP lands at the Suzuka Circuit next Saturday, where Red Bull’s Verstappen will look to overtake McLaren’s Lando Norris in the F1 2025 standings. Just eight points separate the two men, while Verstappen is a mere point ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell.
With a podium to his name from the Australian GP, and a fourth-place finish in China, Verstappen will look to turn the heat on to bring a fifth-consecutive title back to Red Bull at the end of the season.
