Red Bull have promoted Yuki Tsunoda in a swap with Liam Lawson who has been demoted to Racing Bulls with immediate effect.
Following Sergio Perez’s sacking at the end of the 2024 season, Lawson was promoted to Red Bull after two positive short spells at their sister team in the last two seasons.
The 23 year-old however failed to adapt to his new environment with Q1 exits in both Australian and Chinese Grands Prix Qualifying, whilst he also suffered a SQ1 exit in the Chinese Sprint Race as he qualified slowest on the grid for both races in Shanghai, China.
Lawson also failed to score any points in the three races as he spun out in Australia before he finished 14th in the Chinese Sprint, followed by 15th on the road in the Chinese GP which became 12th in the classification after Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton and Pierre Gasly were disqualified.
Red Bull consequently opted to act after just two rounds to give themselves the best possible chance at the constructors’ title, with Tsunoda promoted to Lawson’s seat and partnering Max Verstappen with immediate effect.
Team Principal, Christian Horner explained that he found it “difficult” to see Lawson struggle to adapt and believes that this change is key to their targets for the season.
“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.”
Horner also spoke of the team’s duty to provide Lawson with protection and development and believes that the switch will benefit the Kiwi.
“We have a duty of care to protect and develop Liam and together, we see that after such a difficult start, it makes sense to act quickly so Liam can gain experience, as he continues his F1 career with Visa Cash App Racing Bulls, an environment and a Team he knows very well.”
Lawson took to Instagram hours after confirmation of his demotion to express his feeling at the “tough” announcement but is excited to return to Racing Bulls.
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Tsunoda’s debut for Red Bull also comes coincidentally at his home race as F1 heads to Suzuka, Japan for the Japanese GP from 4-6 April, which will add extra excitement for fans in attendance.
Lawson meanwhile has returned to Racing Bull which will mark the third season that he has driven for the team albeit once again under a new name – having made his debut with the constructor in 2023 under the AlphaTauri name then replaced Daniel Ricciardo for the last six rounds of last season under the RB branding.
Racing Bulls Team Principal, Laurent Mekies has vowed to give Lawson “… the best environment possible for him to shine in our car and to express the talent we all know he has.”
The Kiwi will be partnered by Isack Hadjar who has enjoyed a solid start to his rookie season in F1 despite not scoring a point in three races, as he qualified as the fastest rookie for the Chinese GP in seventh before a two-stop strategy denied him a first top-ten finish.
Mekies also paid tribute to Tsunoda who had spent his first four seasons in F1 with the team and has earned his promotion just two races into his fifth campaign, as he said that the team are “incredibly proud” to see the 24 year-old earn his move to Red Bull.
“His progress last year, and more recently from the very start of 2025, has been nothing less than sensational. Personally, and collectively, it has been an immense privilege to witness those progresses for all of us in Faenza and in Milton Keynes.
“Yuki’s energy and positivity has lightened up every corner of our factories and of our garage and he will always be a Racing Bull! We wish him all the success he deserves at ORBR.”
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