Red Bull drops Lawson for Tsunoda after 2 races

Liam Lawson is out at Red Bull after two races.

The 23-year-old will be replaced by Racing Bulls driver Yuki Tsunoda for the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix, Red Bull announced Thursday. Team principal Christian Horner called the move a "sporting decision."

"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," Horner said in a statement. "We came into the 2025 season with two ambitions, to retain the World Drivers' Championship and to reclaim the World Constructors' title, and this is a purely sporting decision."

Lawson will return to Racing Bulls, Red Bull's junior team, for which he made 11 career starts between 2023 and 2024.

"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 F1 career with Visa Cash App Racing Bulls, an environment and a team he knows very well," Horner added.

Lawson was promoted to Red Bull over the more experienced Tsunoda during the winter break, but he has struggled mightily to adjust to his new team.

The Kiwi driver has yet to score points, retiring in the Australian Grand Prix and finishing 12th in the Chinese GP race. He qualified 18th in Australia while placing 20th in both sprint and grand prix qualifying in China.

Lawson's quick promotion and demotion is the latest chapter in the tale of Red Bull's infamous second seat. Sergio Perez was the team's second driver from 2021-24 but was dropped at the end of last season after scoring 152 points compared to teammate Max Verstappen's 437. The Mexican pilot's struggles cost Red Bull a third straight constructors' championship.

Red Bull is third in the 2025 constructors' standings with 36 points, all of which Verstappen collected. The Milton Keynes squad trails Mercedes (57 points) and McLaren (78 points).

Tsunoda will make his Red Bull debut at his home grand prix in Japan. The 24-year-old began his Formula 1 career with what was then called AlphaTauri in 2021. His performance last season was his best yet as he finished 12th in the championship with 30 points.