D-Day for Lawson. To be replaced by Honda-backed Tsunoda?

Wednesday, 26 March 2025 at 13:50

Speculation about Liam Lawson's Red Bull future picked up speed after the Chinese Grand Prix with reports suggesting the Formula 1 team had decided to replace the New Zealander with Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda.

Tsunoda will swap seats with Lawson as Max Verstappen's teammate for next week's Japanese Grand Prix after a meeting in Dubai, according to multiple reports including ESPN.

Dutch newspapers De Telegraaf and De Limburger reported Honda-backed Tsunoda would swap seats with Lawson as Max Verstappen's teammate from next week's Japanese Grand Prix after a Red Bull meeting in Dubai. Reports suggest the four-time F1 World Champion is unhappy with the development.

They said an official announcement was expected any time after a meeting today by Red Bull bosses. There was no immediate comment from Red Bull. Furthermore, sources close to GRANDPRUX247 claim that Honda is backing the deal.

The New Zealand Herald newspaper said Lawson´s representatives were "unaware if what´s been reported has been finalised by Red Bull."

Lawson was promoted from Racing Bulls, Red Bull's feeder team, to replace Mexican Sergio Perez alongside four times world champion Verstappen this season but has struggled in his first two race weekends in Australia and China.

Lawson one of several Verstappen 'victims' who failed as his teammate

TOKYO, JAPAN - APRIL 03: Sergio Perez of Mexico and Oracle Red Bull Racing, Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing, Yuki Tsunoda of Japan and Visa Cash App RB and Daniel Ricciardo of Australia and Visa Cash App RB pose for a photo as part of the Honda 60th Celebration during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Japan at Roppongi Hills on April 03, 2024 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

The 23-year-old Kiwi was at Racing Bulls with Tsunoda for six races last season, after being drafted in as replacement for Australian Daniel Ricciardo, and was then preferred for the Red Bull seat.

While Verstappen is second in the 2025 standings, eight points behind McLaren's Lando Norris after a second and fourth place as well as a sprint third in China, Lawson has yet to score a point.

Tsunoda meanwhile has made a strong start and scored three points when he finished sixth in the Shanghai sprint last Saturday.

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said after the Chinese Grand Prix that Lawson was struggling but the team would support him as best they could.

Red Bull have a history of swapping out Verstappen's teammates, with the Dutch driver the clear number one at a British-based team who lost the constructors' title to McLaren last year.

Verstappen has acknowledged the current car is difficult to drive, with Lawson saying in Shanghai that he was struggling to get performance out of it.

(Reporting by Alan Baldwin)