In a shocking shake-up within the Red Bull camp, Yuki Tsunoda has been confirmed as the team’s reserve driver for the 2025 Formula 1 season, despite being in contention for a full-time race seat. Instead, Red Bull has opted to promote Liam Lawson, setting up a high-stakes gamble for the reigning F1 champions.
Red Bull’s Ruthless Decision: Tsunoda Overlooked Again
For months, Tsunoda was believed to be the frontrunner to replace Sergio Perez, following the Mexican driver’s disastrous 2024 campaign. The Japanese driver even sampled Red Bull’s RB20 in the post-season test in Abu Dhabi, fueling speculation that he was next in line to partner Max Verstappen.
However, in a bold and controversial call, Red Bull chose Liam Lawson—who has less than a dozen F1 starts to his name—over Tsunoda, despite the latter entering his fifth season with Racing Bulls (formerly AlphaTauri).
Tsunoda’s New Role: Backup to Lawson and Verstappen
Red Bull has not completely shut the door on Tsunoda’s future. Should Lawson fail to deliver, the team has made it clear that Tsunoda remains in consideration for a promotion.
In the meantime, Tsunoda’s reserve driver status means he will be on standby to race the RB21 in case of any unforeseen circumstances.
One key factor that could see Tsunoda back in a Red Bull seat is Max Verstappen’s penalty points situation.
Verstappen’s Risk: A Race Ban Looms
Heading into the 2025 season, Verstappen finds himself in a precarious position, carrying eight penalty points—just four shy of an automatic race ban.
The Dutchman has made it clear that he will not alter his aggressive racing approach, despite knowing that another incident could sideline him for an entire race. With penalty points only expiring after the 12th round in Austria, Verstappen will need to tread carefully.
If Verstappen is forced to sit out a Grand Prix due to a race ban—or if Lawson is unable to race—Tsunoda will be first in line to step into the Red Bull seat.
Who Fills the Void at Racing Bulls?
With Tsunoda acting as Red Bull’s reserve, the question remains: Who will cover for him at Racing Bulls if needed?
The answer is Ayumu Iwasa.
The Japanese driver, who tested the VCARB-01 in FP1 at Suzuka and participated in the post-season test, already has the necessary 40 FIA superlicense points required to race in F1. Should Tsunoda move up to Red Bull for any reason, Iwasa is set to step in at Racing Bulls.
Red Bull’s Gamble: Will Lawson Deliver?
Red Bull’s decision to back Lawson over Tsunoda is undoubtedly a gamble. While Lawson has impressed in his limited F1 outings, throwing him into the deep end alongside Verstappen is a massive leap.
If Lawson struggles to match expectations, Tsunoda could be back in the mix sooner than expected. But for now, he’s left playing the waiting game, hoping for an opportunity to prove Red Bull wrong for overlooking him once again.
With Verstappen’s penalty risk, Lawson’s untested consistency, and the ever-changing landscape of Red Bull’s driver program, expect plenty of twists and drama in 2025.
