Prior to the Japanese Grand Prix, Red Bull Racing made the audacious lineup choice to substitute Yuki Tsunoda for Liam Lawson. As they strive for more consistency in the 2025 season, the move represents a change in the team’s approach.
Christian Horner, the Red Bull team principal, admitted that Lawson’s debut was difficult because he had not performed well in his first two races. Horner said, “We need someone who can deliver under pressure because it’s been hard for Liam.” Tsunoda, who previously played for AlphaTauri, Red Bull’s junior team, will now get another chance to establish himself on the main stage.
The F1 community has responded to the decision in different ways. Some contend that Lawson should have had more time to adjust, while others believe that Tsunoda’s promotion makes sense given his background and impressive results in prior seasons.
Tsunoda’s home race is the Japanese Grand Prix, so there is a lot of pressure on the young driver to take advantage of home support and finish strongly. In the meantime, Red Bull’s management is adamant about replacing drivers quickly in the event that performance standards are not fulfilled.
