In a dramatic twist within the F1 2025 season, Red Bull has made a significant driver swap, with Yuki Tsunoda stepping in as Liam Lawson returns to Racing Bulls.
- Lawson’s challenges in the opening rounds have prompted this decision, leaving him to continue his career away from Red Bull’s main team.
- Tsunoda, after several seasons with the junior team, finally gets his shot at the big league to debut in Japan.
- The swap decision stems from past choices, with Red Bull initially favoring Lawson over Tsunoda, a move now deemed a mistake.
- Amid the shuffle, Max Verstappen’s social media ‘like’ hints at his disapproval.
The F1 2025 season has already seen a shake-up just two races in, as Red Bull opts for a driver change. With Liam Lawson failing to shine in the initial races, struggling to score points or advance past Q1 in both Australia and China, Red Bull has decided to send him back to Racing Bulls. Team Principal Christian Horner stated that the swap ‘makes sense’, aiming to support Lawson’s development away from the pressure of the main team.
This move follows Sergio Perez vacating his seat, leading Red Bull to initially pick the less experienced Lawson over Yuki Tsunoda despite Tsunoda’s inconsistency. However, this decision has been reevaluated as a ‘mistake’, as disclosed by Helmut Marko. Lawson’s demotion and Tsunoda’s promotion now provide Red Bull an opportunity to explore the alternate path, as Tsunoda prepares to race in front of his home crowd at the Japanese Grand Prix.
The decision hasn’t gone unnoticed by F1 stars and commentators. Notably, Max Verstappen ‘liked’ a social media post from ex-F1 driver Giedo van der Garde, who criticized the swap as akin to bullying or panic. This gesture from Verstappen subtly echoes his sentiments on the situation, adding an intriguing layer to the unfolding driver dynamics at Red Bull.
While the focus is on Red Bull, another event in the F1 circuit adds to the buzz. Valtteri Bottas, having lost his Sauber seat, made headlines returning to the Mercedes garage as a reserve driver, with a spotlight test in Barcelona with McLaren. Despite speculation of a move to McLaren, sources confirmed Bottas remains a Mercedes asset, the test merely a preparation to stand in if needed. This further spices up the narrative of driver roles and future possibilities in the championship.
As the driver carousel spins, fans are left eager to see how Red Bull’s decisions will unfold on the track.
