- Red Bull have made the brutal decision to part company with Liam Lawson
- Max Verstappen is said to be
Liam Lawson has been axed as Red Bull’s No 2 driver, the team have confirmed this morning.
Yuki Tsunoda is promoted to drive in Lawson’s place at the Japanese Grand Prix, his home race, a week on Sunday, alongside world champion Max Verstappen.
A statement from Red Bull said: ‘Following a difficult opening period for the season for Liam Lawson, Red Bull have made the decision that from the 2005 Japan GP, Yuki Tsunoda will drive for Red Bull and Liam will drive for Racing Bulls.
‘Red Bull are in the unique position of having four seats on the F1 grid, and as such the team have made the decision to exercise driver rotation that will see Yuki partner current and four-time world champion Max Verstappen.
‘Christian Horner, team principal and CEO, said: ‘It has been difficult to see Liam struggle with the RB21 at the first two races and as a result we have collectively taken the decision to make an early switch.
‘We came into the 2025 season with two ambitions, to retain the world drivers’ championship and to retain 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.
‘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 career with Racing Bulls, an environment and a team he knows very well.’
Lawson qualified 18th in the opening race in Australia before crashing out. The New Zealander qualified last for the sprint and grand prix in China and finished 14th and 12th.
Sources close to Red Bull told Mail Sport that Verstappen has been left ‘shaken’ by Lawson’s axing.
‘It is totally unfair to treat Liam like this,’ said the unnamed contact close to the scene. ‘You have to give him more than two races to prove himself after he has worked for this opportunity all his life.
‘He may not have done well, no argument over that. But to ditch him so fast is seriously bad. It smacks of a team in chaos.’
A leading driver, speaking off the record, confided the other day: ‘What is destroying Liam is the way he is dealt with by Helmut. The atmosphere there does not give their drivers room to breathe, to fulfil themselves.’
