In a surprising turn of events, Red Bull Racing has demoted 23-year-old New Zealander Liam Lawson to its junior team, Racing Bulls, after just two races in the 2025 Formula 1 season. This decision comes on the heels of Lawson’s challenging performances in Australia and China. Yuki Tsunoda has been promoted to partner with Max Verstappen.Lawson has expressed his determination to prove his worth in the sport. ​The Irish Sun+6news+6Reuters+6Aktuelle Nachrichten | BILD.de+3Reuters+3news+3The Irish Sun+8The Guardian+8AP News+8
Lawson’s Initial Struggles with Red Bull
Lawson’s tenure with Red Bull’s main team was brief and fraught with difficulties. In the season opener in Melbourne, he failed to finish the race due to a crash in treacherous conditions. The subsequent race in Shanghai saw him qualifying in last place for both the Sprint and Grand Prix, culminating in a 12th-place finish without earning any points. ​Latest news & breaking headlines
The Decision to Demote Lawson
The decision to replace Lawson was influenced by concerns from Red Bull’s engineering team regarding his mental well-being under pressure. Team principal Christian Horner stated that the team might have asked too much of Lawson too soon, leading to the challenging decision to demote him for his own good. ​AP News+9Latest news & breaking headlines+9news+9
Yuki Tsunoda’s Promotion and Its Implications
Yuki Tsunoda’s promotion to Red Bull’s main team marks a significant milestone, as he becomes the latest Japanese driver to seek success in Formula 1. Tsunoda is set to make his debut alongside Max Verstappen at the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka, his home circuit. Despite limited past success, he remains optimistic about delivering strong results. ​Aktuelle Nachrichten | BILD.de+9AP News+9Cadena SER+9
Lawson’s Response and Future Prospects
Lawson expressed surprise upon learning of his demotion but remains resolute. He emphasized his commitment to maximizing his new opportunity with Racing Bulls and continuing his career in Formula 1. Reflecting on the unpredictability of the sport, Lawson remains hopeful about returning to Red Bull in the future. ​Aktuelle Nachrichten | BILD.de+7Reuters+7news+7
Expert Opinions on Red Bull’s Decision
Former F1 driver Jaime Alguersuari defended Lawson, stating that his performance was not as poor as it seemed and criticizing Red Bull’s impatience. Alguersuari highlighted the need for time to adapt to a new car and team, suggesting that Lawson was not given a fair opportunity to prove himself. ​Diario AS+1talkSPORT+1
Conclusion
Liam Lawson’s early-season demotion from Red Bull Racing underscores the high-pressure environment of Formula 1 and the swift decisions teams make in pursuit of success. While the move was unexpected, Lawson’s determination to prove his worth and Tsunoda’s promotion add intriguing dynamics to the ongoing season. As the Japanese Grand Prix approaches, all eyes will be on
