Could Yuki Tsunoda Replace Liam Lawson Early in the Season?

After Two Disappointing Races, Rumors Suggest Tsunoda Could Replace Lawson for the Japanese GP

· Mar 25 - 4 minutes read

All the Drama 🏎️

The F1 rumor mill is in overdrive with speculation that Liam Lawson could be dropped after just two races. It’s a brutal reality, but Red Bull has never been a team known for patience. Their drivers are expected to perform at the highest level from day one—there’s no room for error.

Unfortunately for Lawson, his season has started on the wrong foot. Despite having a competitive car, he’s struggled to deliver, making costly mistakes that have put his seat in jeopardy. Now, Red Bull’s leadership is reportedly considering replacing him with Yuki Tsunoda.

Could Yuki Tsunoda Replace Liam Lawson Early in the Season? — Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson | Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images/AFP

🚨 | Yuki Tsunoda’s promotion to Red Bull appears IMMINENT, according to various sources.

The 24-year-old is poised to replace Liam Lawson. pic.twitter.com/CHwFgHXnIl

— formularacers (@formularacers_) March 25, 2025

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Is It the Right Time for Tsunoda to Make the Jump?

Tsunoda has long been waiting for his shot with Red Bull’s main team, but is now really the right moment? So far, he’s had a strong start with Racing Bulls, already securing three points in the F1 schedule. In 2023, he finished 12th in the F1 standings with 30 points, proving his consistency.

Right now, Tsunoda is leading his team well, and Racing Bulls appears stable—something that can’t be said for Red Bull’s main garage, where tensions have been simmering since last year. Such an early switch would also come with challenges; adapting to a new car isn’t instant, and rushing the transition could backfire.

Liam Lawson responded after Yuki Tsunoda said he would be 100% ready for a switch to Red Bull 👀 pic.twitter.com/pke9MkMtdO

— Autosport (@autosport) March 24, 2025

Ahead of the Japanese GP, Tsunoda’s betting odds for a podium finish stood at +800 in the Racing Bulls, positioning him ahead of Lawson. If he stays put, he’s a solid bet to finish in the points.

Verstappen and Schumacher Weigh In

Max Verstappen has warned that demoting Lawson so quickly could be career-ending. The reigning world champion also pointed out that while Lawson is struggling, the car itself might need work to unlock its full potential. Adapting to a high-performance F1 car isn’t just about talent—it’s about the right setup, and Red Bull hasn’t necessarily provided that yet.

F1 veteran Ralf Schumacher echoed similar concerns, highlighting the difficult position Lawson finds himself in.

“Red Bull is anything but good at the moment. When you come in as a young driver and have to race against the best driver of this era—who has spent years developing the car around him—no matter who you put next to him, he’ll be sent home within a few races.”

Schumacher also pointed out how car development played a key role in Sergio Perez’s performance last season:

“Pérez was good at the beginning of last year because the car was good, and bad at the end because the car was simply bad. It’s not that they’re overwhelmed—they just don’t have it under control.”

Since his permanent return to F1, Liam Lawson has been out-qualified by Yuki Tsunoda at every race 👀 pic.twitter.com/cvmScSnSFF

— Autosport (@autosport) March 22, 2025

Decision Time at Red Bull

With the pressure mounting, Red Bull has to make a critical decision for the next F1 races. Do they gamble on an early driver switch, risking instability? Or do they give Lawson more time to find his footing and focus on improving the car instead?

For now, the speculation continues—but in Formula 1, decisions come fast. And for Liam Lawson, the clock is ticking.