As the Formula 1 2025 season takes a turbulent start, Red Bull finds itself in the eye of the storm. The team has summoned an urgent meeting at their Milton Keynes base to confer about the subpar performance they’ve delivered so far, and the fate of their driver, Liam Lawson. The decision will be pivotal for Lawson’s career, who is grappling with his position in the team after two successive Q1 dropouts.
Red Bull has a history of making important decisions in such meetings – a flashback to the post-Belgian Grand Prix gathering in 2024, where the team confirmed Sergio Perez would continue as Max Verstappen’s partner for the season’s latter half. However, Perez vacated his seat at the end of the season, making way for Lawson.
Rumors are rife that Yuki Tsunoda might step into Lawson’s shoes at Red Bull. Ralf Schumacher, former F1 driver, stoked these speculations, claiming that Tsunoda would make his Red Bull debut in his home country at the Japanese Grand Prix next month. According to Schumacher, Lawson is already benched for the next race, indicating Tsunoda’s imminent arrival at Suzuka.
However, these rumors are yet to be confirmed by Red Bull, who are reportedly considering all options for Lawson’s replacement. Schumacher believes Lawson’s dwindling self-confidence might expedite Tsunoda’s entry into the team.
In the meantime, Franco Colapinto, who made a significant impact with Williams in 2024 before signing up as Alpine’s reserve driver for the 2025 season, is not on Red Bull’s list of potential replacements. The young Argentinian, despite his noteworthy performance, is not part of Red Bull’s contingency plan if Lawson’s departure materializes.
An in-depth data analysis of Lawson’s performance at Red Bull reveals a dismal picture. Lawson holds the dubious distinction of being the first Red Bull driver in a decade to be ousted in Q1 in his first two appearances for the team. He ended up last in the qualifiers for both the sprint and main race in Shanghai last weekend, reinforcing worries about his future in the team.
In another development, Formula One Management (FOM) has responded to Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur’s allegation that the Chinese Grand Prix television coverage favored certain team radio messages to create unnecessary drama. An F1 spokesperson clarified to PlanetF1.com that there was no intention to misrepresent the Ferrari team radio narrative. The spokesperson explained that Lewis’s message wasn’t played due to other unfolding situations during the race, insisting it was not a deliberate omission.
As Red Bull gears up for their critical meeting, the fate of several players hangs in the balance. The decisions made could potentially reshape the team’s future and the path of the F1 2025 season.
