According to sources close to ESPN, Yuki Tsunoda is set to take over from Liam Lawson at Red Bull for the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix. This surprising change comes just two races into Lawson’s stint with the team, and the official announcement is expected later this week once everything’s finalized.
For the reigning world champion, Max Verstappen, this marks his third new teammate in just four races. Lawson had stepped in to fill Sergio Perez’s shoes but is now heading back to the Racing Bulls, which is Red Bull’s junior squad.
This reshuffle gives Tsunoda, who has enjoyed solid backing from Honda—Red Bull’s outgoing engine partner—a golden opportunity to debut with the main team at his much-anticipated home race in Japan. Red Bull is no stranger to making bold driver changes, but this one certainly stands out for its swiftness and impact.
Insiders shared with ESPN that Lawson’s rough start led to this bold decision. In Australia, he only managed to qualify 18th and then crashed out in rainy conditions, while Verstappen powered through to a podium finish. The trend didn’t improve in China, where Lawson qualified last for both the sprint and main race, and didn’t score any points.
The decision was finalized in a meeting earlier this week, although it’s believed that Lawson left the Shanghai International Circuit last Sunday with an inkling of what was coming. Despite previously being hesitant to promote Tsunoda, Red Bull’s team lead, Christian Horner, has been impressed by the Japanese driver’s form this season.
In his recent performances, Tsunoda showed strong potential, though strategic missteps by his Racing Bulls team kept him out of the points in both races.
In the world of Formula 1, many long felt that Tsunoda, a key figure with Red Bull’s junior team since 2021, deserved the seat over Lawson from the outset. Lawson is officially a rookie this year, entering the season with just 11 race starts spread over two years before 2025. He will be joining his fellow rookie, Isack Hadjar, back at his former squad.
