The F1 2025 season began with a driver shuffle in the Red Bull ranks, impacting Liam Lawson.
- Lawson found it challenging to adapt to the RB21, leading to a temporary swap with Yuki Tsunoda.
- Helmut Marko recently shared his perspective on Lawson’s adjustment and compared him to rookie Isack Hadjar.
- Marko praised Hadjar’s rapid adaptation and his ability to keep calm under pressure.
- Lawson, while currently performing well, didn’t match Tsunoda’s experience in car development, according to Christian Horner.
As the F1 2025 season kicked off, the Red Bull team witnessed a significant shift as Liam Lawson was swapped with Yuki Tsunoda. The move stemmed from Lawson’s struggles with the RB21, a car known for its challenging dynamics. In Australia and China, Lawson’s outings were underwhelming—exiting in Q1 each time and failing to secure any points. This prompted the decision to bring Tsunoda into Red Bull Racing, leveraging his five-year F1 experience to better contribute to the car’s development alongside Max Verstappen.
Despite the shuffle, neither Lawson nor Tsunoda experienced dramatic improvements in their standings. Tsunoda scored points only once, and Lawson’s best result remained at 12th place. Nevertheless, both drivers have shown signs of increased confidence amidst these changes.
Helmut Marko offered his insights on this development through his column in Speedweek. He commended Lawson, noting his speed in Jeddah compared to his teammate, Isack Hadjar. Marko observed that the New Zealander has comfortably settled back into his role with Racing Bulls. However, Marko reserved his highest praise for Hadjar, labeling him as a standout performer in the opening phases of the season.
Hadjar, a young Parisian, has impressed many with his quick adaptation to unfamiliar circuits and consistently strong lap times, all achieved with effective tire management. This calm approach marks a significant evolution from his earlier temperament issues in Formula 2, where he was known for emotional radio outbursts. Now, in F1’s big leagues, Hadjar demonstrates a cool-headedness that serves him well even when facing setbacks.
Christian Horner emphasized that Lawson’s temporary downgrade was strategic, aiming to find a driver pairing that could advance Red Bull in car development efforts. Tsunoda’s experience positioned him as a more suitable partner for Verstappen compared to Lawson, who is still in the developmental phase of his career.
In the dynamic world of F1, driver adjustments remain a strategic necessity, reflecting broader team ambitions.
