Red Bull Racing is reportedly set to replace Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda for the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix, following a challenging start to Lawson’s Formula One career. This news was shared by former driver Ralf Schumacher on Sky Sports Germany. Lawson has struggled significantly in his two races with Red Bull, finishing last in qualifying during the Melbourne Grand Prix and only managing to recover to 15th place in the Shanghai race, later elevated to 12th after several drivers were disqualified.
Despite the team’s intentions to review Lawson’s progress, Schumacher claims that the decision to replace him has already been made, emphasising that senior management, including advisor Helmut Marko, is keen on a swift change. Lawson has expressed concerns about adapting to Red Bull’s notoriously difficult car, which is designed around the driving style of reigning champion Max Verstappen. Schumacher posits that the difficulties of racing alongside Verstappen—widely regarded as the best driver currently—can overwhelm a less experienced racer.
While Tsunoda’s resurgence might signal an immediate remedy for Red Bull, Schumacher has advised the team to maintain faith in Lawson, arguing that Red Bull’s current car performance issues should not be laid solely at the feet of the new driver. He highlighted the daunting prospect of competing against Verstappen, stressing the importance of patience with rookie drivers amid the pressures of the sport.
Both Red Bull team principal Christian Horner and Schumacher have acknowledged the weight of expectations and challenges faced by Lawson. Horner noted that the team would utilise data from recent races to better support the young driver. Lawson remains optimistic about upcoming races on circuits with which he is familiar, hoping they might turn his fortunes around.
As the F1 calendar approaches the triple-header of races in Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain, Red Bull’s management faces the dual challenge of nurturing a developing talent while also striving for competitive performance in a highly demanding environment.