Liam Lawson is set to be dropped by Red Bull after just two races of the 2025 F1 season – with Yuki Tsunoda in line to replace him for his home race in Japan next week.
New Zealand racer Lawson has endured a torrid opening two races as Max Verstappen’s teammate: he crashed out of the season-opening Australian GP and qualified last on the grid, twice, in China. He finished the grand prix in 12th, after three post-race disqualifications.
The writing looked somewhat on the wall on Sunday night when Red Bull team principal Christian Horner refused to rule out an early-season swap, with Racing Bulls driver Tsunoda the obvious candidate to step up.
Now, it seems inevitable that Tsunoda, 24, will indeed swap spots with Lawson for the grand prix in Suzuka next week. While nothing is confirmed from Red Bull yet, The Independent understands an official announcement is expected later this week, with details still to be ironed out.
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F1 NEWS - LATEST UPDATES
- NEW: Liam Lawson set to be dropped by Red Bull for Japan GP
- Yuki Tsunoda set to replace Lawson for his home race
- READ: The numbers behind Yuki Tsunoda’s battle with Liam Lawson over Red Bull F1 seat
- Christian Horner refused to rule out Lawson-Tsunoda swap on Sunday
- COMMENT: Lewis Hamilton’s shock disqualification tells us one thing: Ferrari have hit rock bottom
FULL STORY: Liam Lawson set to be dropped by Red Bull in shock F1 move – with Yuki Tsunoda to replace him
11:39
,
Kieran Jackson
New Zealand racer Lawson, 23, has endured a torrid opening two races as Max Verstappen’s teammate: he crashed out of the season-opening Australian GP and qualified last on the grid, twice, in China. He finished the grand prix in 12th, after three post-race disqualifications.
The writing looked somewhat on the wall on Sunday night when Red Bull team principal Christian Horner refused to rule out an early-season swap, with Racing Bulls driver Tsunoda the obvious candidate to step up.
Now, it seems inevitable that Tsunoda, 24, will indeed swap spots with Lawson for the grand prix in Suzuka next week. While nothing is confirmed from Red Bull yet, The Independent understands an official announcement is expected later this week, with details still to be ironed out.
Full story:
The numbers behind Yuki Tsunoda’s battle with Liam Lawson over Red Bull F1 seat
16:02
,
Kieran Jackson
Yuki Tsunoda looks set to replace Liam Lawson at the next F1 race in Japan – his home race – in a huge early-season switch at Red Bull.
The role of Max Verstappen’s teammate has been a poisoned chalice in recent years, but Tsunoda’s form has improved in the last two years and he recently said he “100%” backs himself to perform in the main team if given the opportunity.
But what do the stats say? The Independent takes a look at the numbers behind Tsunoda vs Lawson, in the battle for the Red Bull second seat.
Liam Lawson after China:
15:32
,
Kieran Jackson
“It’s really tough honestly, the window is really small,” said a downbeat Lawson afterwards.
“It’s not an excuse, I’ve got to get a handle on it.”
Asked what he needs, Lawson replied: “It’s just time. Unfortunately, I don’t really have time, it’s just one of those things.
“To drive a Formula 1 car, it takes 100% confidence. The window is so small and I just seem to miss it, need to get a handle of it.
“It’s just not good enough.”
MORE: Lawson set to be dropped
14:59
,
Kieran Jackson
A meeting between senior Red Bull figures at the Dubai home of Red Bull major shareholder Chalerm Yoovidhya has seemingly resulted in Lawson’s two-race stint coming to an end.
The move would see Lawson drop down to the sister team, Racing Bulls, and partner Isack Hadjar from race three onwards.
Lawson himself acknowledged in China that he did “not have time” on his side as he looked to turn around his form, but nonetheless, it is a huge shock just two races into a 24-race season.
Yuki Tsunoda on Red Bull seat:
14:20
“I appreciate what Zak said to me in the press, but it’s just one race,” Tsunoda said, when asked about McLaren boss Brown’s commenting that Tsunoda should have been given the Red Bull seat.
“These things have been going on since last year [after the] first race. Daniel-Checo, myself-Checo, Liam-Checo. It’s a bit of a tradition for our group.
“It’s positive but at the same time, I just have to keep [doing] what I’m doing.
“In the end, they chose this line-up last year at the end of the season. Maybe they have a clear plan for the future, I don’t know.”
COMMENT: Lewis Hamilton’s shock disqualification tells us one thing: Ferrari have already hit rock bottom
13:20
,
Kieran Jackson
Twenty-four hours is a long time in Formula One. Just on Saturday, Lewis Hamilton was riding high, optimism radiating, after his first taste of victory in the famous Ferrari red, albeit in the shorter sprint format.
By Sunday night, long after dusk fell in Shanghai, the Briton and his beleaguered team had hit rock bottom.
Full report below:
Liam Lawson sends firm message to Red Bull rival Yuki Tsunoda: ‘He’s had his time’
12:51
,
Kieran Jackson
“If I look back over our career, I was team-mates with him in F3 and I beat him,” Lawson told The Telegraph.
“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.
“He’s had his time. Now it’s my time.”
MORE: Horner on Lawson's struggles
11:10
,
Kieran Jackson
In China, Horner added that he “feels very sorry” for Lawson at the moment, as he struggles to adapt to the RB21 car.
“I think Liam still has got potential, we’re just not realising that at the moment,” he said.
“I think the problem for him is he’s had a couple of really tough weekends and he’s got all the media on his back.
“The pressure just naturally grows in this business. I feel very sorry for him that he’s… you can see it’s very tough on him at the moment.
“He’s a young guy, we’ve got a duty to look after him. We’re going to do the best that we can to support him. Liam’s still a very capable driver, we know that, we’re just not… for whatever reason, we’re not seeing him able to deliver that at the moment.”
VIDEO: Liam Lawson reacts after another tough weekend for Red Bull
10:32
,
Kieran Jackson
How has Lawson performed so far?
09:44
Australia: qualified 18th; DNF
China: qualified 20th for sprint, finished 15th; qualified 20th for race, finished 12th
Yuki Tsunoda on Red Bull seat:
09:32
,
Kieran Jackson
“I appreciate what Zak said to me in the press, but it’s just one race,” Tsunoda said, when asked about McLaren boss Brown’s commenting that Tsunoda should have been given the Red Bull seat.
“These things have been going on since last year [after the] first race. Daniel-Checo, myself-Checo, Liam-Checo. It’s a bit of a tradition for our group.
“It’s positive but at the same time, I just have to keep [doing] what I’m doing.
“In the end, they chose this line-up last year at the end of the season. Maybe they have a clear plan for the future, I don’t know.”
What did Horner say when asked about Lawson's future?
09:20
,
Kieran Jackson
“There’s always going to be speculation in the paddock,” Horner said, when asked whether Red Bull could make a change for Japan (4-6 April).
“I think everything is purely speculative at the moment. As I say, we’ve just finished this race, we’re going to take away the info and have a good look at it.”
NEW: Liam Lawson set to be dropped by Red Bull in shock F1 move – with Yuki Tsunoda to replace him
09:02
,
Kieran Jackson
Liam Lawson is set to be dropLiam Lawson is set to be dropped by Red Bull after just two races of the 2025 F1 season – with Yuki Tsunoda in line to replace him for his home race in Japan next week.
New Zealand racer Lawson has endured a torrid opening two races as Max Verstappen’s teammate: he crashed out of the season-opening Australian GP and qualified last on the grid, twice, in China. He finished the grand prix in 12th, after three post-race disqualifications.
The writing looked somewhat on the wall on Sunday night when Red Bull team principal Christian Horner refused to rule out an early-season swap, with Racing Bulls driver Tsunoda the obvious candidate to step up.
Now, it seems inevitable that Tsunoda, 24, will indeed swap spots with Lawson for the grand prix in Suzuka next week. While nothing is confirmed from Red Bull yet, The Independent understands an official announcement is expected later this week, with details still to be ironed out.
Ralf Schumacher on Lawson-Tsunoda Red Bull swap:
Monday 24 March 2025 13:25
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Kieran Jackson
Strong quotes from Ralf Schumacher to Sky Germany after the Chinese GP:
"I've checked it, too, and indeed: Liam Lawson is already out, out of Red Bull for the next race, and Tsunoda will replace him. That's not entirely confirmed yet, but it probably will be.
“It's unbelievable [...] unbelievably bad from a management perspective.
“I don't understand it at all when you destabilise a good team – Racing Bulls – who are finally doing well with both drivers, and you risk burning out Tsunoda [...] and Lawson then goes back to Racing Bulls and now he'll rebuild there, but it's complete chaos at Red Bull."
Ferrari boss slams F1’s ‘joke’ radio broadcast of Hamilton-Leclerc swap in China
Monday 24 March 2025 12:28
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Kieran Jackson
Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur took aim at Formula One’s “joke” broadcast of the Chinese Grand Prix as he accused the sport of deliberately creating a show when Lewis Hamilton offered to move aside for Charles Leclerc.
Vasseur was speaking before both Hamilton and Leclerc were disqualified from fifth and sixth places for illegalities on their cars. Hamilton’s floor ran too close to the ground, while Leclerc’s machine was underweight.
In the race, Hamilton volunteered to allow team-mate Leclerc through for fifth as he struggled for speed. However, Hamilton’s radio message was not shown on the international feed.
Full story below:
Lewis Hamilton, after finishing sixth:
Monday 24 March 2025 09:02
,
Kieran Jackson
Hamilton spoke prior to news of his DSQ:
On two-stop strategy: “I’m glad that we tried something, I was struggling with performance.
“Ultimately we had a pretty decent car in the sprint, we made some changes and made it worse. Lots to learn, the pit stop is too long here and they were still going fast at the end, Verstappen was doing the same times as me and I had fresher tyres, it wasn’t great.”
On changes post-sprint: “We made it quite a bit worse, I hadn’t tested it, we both went that way and it was bad.
“I know not to do that again.”
Liam Lawson painfully honest after torrid start to Red Bull F1 career: ‘It’s just not good enough’
Monday 24 March 2025 08:45
,
Kieran Jackson
Liam Lawson did not make any excuses as he reflected on a torrid start to his Red Bull F1 career at the Chinese Grand Prix.
The Kiwi driver, promoted to be Max Verstappen’s teammate this year as he replaced Sergio Perez, crashed out of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in wet conditions last week
Yet this weekend in Shanghai has been even worse, so far. Lawson qualified dead last for the sprint race on Saturday – though moved up to finish 14th – but did not improve his one-lap pace in grand prix qualifying, finishing last once more.
Full quotes below:
NEW TOP-10 - CHINESE GP
Monday 24 March 2025 08:20
As a result of Hamilton (6th), Leclerc (5th) and Gasly’s (11th) DSQ - here is the new top-10:
1. Oscar Piastri
2. Lando Norris
3. George Russell
4. Max Verstappen
5. Esteban Ocon
6. Kimi Antonelli
7. Alex Albon
8. Ollie Bearman
9. Lance Stroll
10. Carlos Sainz
Max Verstappen after finishing fourth:
Monday 24 March 2025 00:24
“We set out to do our own pace, the tyres were in a decent shape when we pitted but it’s not how we want to race. A lot to analyse I think, the second stint was more positive and promising.
“I try to do the best I can, not thinking about anything else. Feel good in life in general, that’s what matters the most.”
EXPLAINER: Why was Lewis Hamilton disqualified from Chinese Grand Prix?
Sunday 23 March 2025 20:03