Red Bull Racing’s decision not to reinstate Daniel Ricciardo to their second seat alongside Max Verstappen during last year’s mid-season break is proving to be a significant miscalculation. This oversight not only sparked a public relations crisis following Ricciardo’s abrupt exit from the team but is now jeopardising the future of Liam Lawson after just two races in the 2025 season.
Reports suggest that Red Bull will soon announce Yuki Tsunoda as Lawson’s replacement for the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix. This comes amid speculation that Ricciardo, once a promising talent for the team, should have been given another opportunity to demonstrate his abilities following his departure from McLaren.
Lawson, who is yet to find success in his limited outings, faces a daunting prospect of being relegated to the junior team, Racing Bulls, before he’s even had a chance to establish himself. Discussions reportedly include the potential of Franco Colapinto joining the squad, indicating the ruthless nature of Red Bull’s driver development programme, where performance is the only criteria for survival.
In the context of Ricciardo’s turbulent relationship with the team since Max Verstappen’s rise to prominence in 2016, many believe that the Australian could have provided a stabilising influence, potentially performing equally well or better than current teammate Sergio Perez. His absence has deprived Red Bull of a charismatic figure with widespread fan support; a move back to the team for him could have been a brilliant PR strategy.
Furthermore, if Tsunoda secures the race seat, he will be the most seasoned driver to transition directly from Red Bull’s junior ranks to the senior team. Should he falter like previous graduates, Red Bull may face significant challenges in attracting experienced competitors in the future. The looming question remains: what will happen if Verstappen decides to leave for another team? The current structure relies heavily on his unique driving style, with the car’s design tailored uniquely to him.
As Red Bull navigates this challenging phase, the decision to bypass Ricciardo’s re-promotion stands out. It raises the question of whether they may have preferred to retain a popular driver rather than take the risk with newcomers still unproven at the top level. The team’s future developments and potential missteps in driver selection could reshape their competitive landscape. Embracing Ricciardo could have been a wise move — it’s a monumental task to mitigate such challenges moving forward without him now.