In a shocking twist of events, Red Bull Racing is on the verge of replacing Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda, only two races into the 2025 Formula 1 season. This swift decision underlines a significant miscalculation in Red Bull’s evaluation of Lawson’s potential, which initially led to Sergio Perez’s departure.
Despite high hopes, Lawson’s performance has been underwhelming, with qualifying positions of 18th, 20th, and 20th—the worst in Red Bull’s history. This stark contrast to last winter’s optimistic expectations has forced Red Bull to reconsider its strategy to overcome its second-car woes, which have been a persistent issue, notably affecting the team’s standings in the 2024 constructors’ championship.
Christian Horner, Red Bull’s team principal, was previously convinced of Lawson’s potential, seeing him as a promising prospect with room for growth. “In qualifying, the margins to Yuki were very tight, and on race pace, he’s come out on average above Yuki,” Horner noted. However, Lawson’s inability to adapt to the RB21’s peculiarities, which even Max Verstappen finds challenging, has overshadowed his potential.
The RB21, tailored to favor Verstappen’s aggressive driving style, has proven incompatible for Lawson. The car demands mastery over a nervous rear end—a skill Verstappen excels in but Lawson struggles with. This mismatch became evident during Lawson’s difficulties in maintaining consistency within the car’s operational window.
Red Bull’s decision to pivot back to Tsunoda reflects lessons learned from Perez’s tenure. The team’s hesitance in addressing performance issues last season resulted in costly championship losses, with Perez’s underperformance impacting Red Bull’s position in the standings and prize money earnings.
Horner admitted, “We don’t set out to make a car driver-centric, you just work on the info that you have.” This approach has historically favored Verstappen, whose detailed feedback and successful results naturally influence car development decisions.
As Red Bull navigates the competitive landscape where Mercedes has shown advancements and Ferrari exhibits sporadic speed, the urgency to secure a reliable second driver has intensified. Lawson’s struggles, combined with Red Bull’s memories of last season’s setbacks, have catalyzed this decisive driver swap.
In a candid reflection over the China race weekend, Lawson expressed his frustration, stating, “I don’t have time to test the car and get used to it…we’re losing points.” With Red Bull’s quick decision to replace Lawson with Tsunoda, the team hopes to stabilize its standings and resolve its ongoing second-driver dilemma.
As Red Bull embarks on this new chapter with Tsunoda, the spotlight turns to whether the core issue lies with the car itself or the capability of the drivers. The coming races will be crucial in determining Red Bull’s path forward in this high-stakes season.
