Red Bull have replaced Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda for the Japanese GP after a difficult start to the Formula 1 season as Max Verstappen finds himself with a new team-mate once again
Former Formula 1 team boss Gian Carlo Minardi believes Max Verstappen must be to blame for the continued struggles of his team-mates at Red Bull. Liam Lawson has found himself replaced by Yuki Tsunoda after just two races in the hotseat where he failed to score a point.
The Dutch driver has claimed four world titles in a row as the team’s lead driver, and recorded finishes of second and fourth in the opening grand prixs of this year. Verstappen has consistently seen his team-mates fail to match his results and cycled through the likes of Daniel Ricciardo, Alex Albon, Pierre Gasly and Sergio Perez.
Albon has previously discussed the difficulties of battling in a car that is tailored more towards Verstappen. And after entering the season full of promise, Lawson appears to be the latest who has found problems taking on the challenge.
Minardi, whose self-named team was purchased by Red Bull in 2006, believes Verstappen’s style of driving has essentially left the constructor with one driver. The F1 veteran can find no other explanation for Racing Bulls outcompeting the 23-year-old Lawson.
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“Red Bull has quite a different problem, if we can call it that, in the sense that it finds itself once again racing with only one driver, Max Verstappen,” said Minardi.
“However, it is not possible that whoever comes alongside him has such enormous difficulties. It is probably a very difficult car to drive and manage, having been built entirely around the Dutchman who has a particular style of driving, putting his teammates in difficulty.
“I find it hard to imagine a different explanation, since the same “cousins” let themselves be faster and better performing than Lawson.”
Tsunoda will now be the latest to make his Red Bull debut at the Japanese Grand Prix on April 6, while Lawson has been relegated back to junior team Racing Bulls. Still just 24, Tsunoda has been in F1 since 2021 and has previously been overlooked despite his greater experience.
Red Bull boss Christian Horner explained that Lawson’s difficulties with RB21 saw them move swiftly in a bid to save the team’s season. Horner reckons Tsunoda will be able to help develop the car.
“It has been difficult to see Liam struggle with the RB21 at the first two races and as a result we have collectively taken the decision to make an early switch,” he said. “We came into the 2025 season with two ambitions, to retain the world drivers’ championship and to reclaim the world constructors’ title and this is a purely sporting decision.
“We acknowledge there is a lot of work to be done with the RB21 and Yuki’s experience will prove highly beneficial in helping to develop the current car. We welcome him to the team and are looking forward to seeing him behind the wheel of the RB21.”
