The motorsport world is buzzing with speculation that Liam Lawson might lose his place at Red Bull, with Yuki Tsunoda poised to take over at the Japanese Grand Prix. According to pundit Ralf Schumacher, Lawson is “already out for the next race.”
Liam Lawson’s debut season with Red Bull seems to be faltering just two races into the F1 2025 championship. Despite having been selected over Yuki Tsunoda for a seat, Lawson’s results have been underwhelming. In the recent Grand Prix, he was knocked out in Q1 during all three qualifying sessions, finishing at the back in China. Even with changes made to his Red Bull car setup, he struggled, trailing behind his teammate Max Verstappen by a minute and ultimately placing 15th, though circumstances later bumped him up to 12th.
Red Bull is rumored to be reconsidering their decision, especially after Lawson himself expressed concerns about his performance pace, stating, “I don’t really have time to get used to it, but I need to figure it out as quickly.” His precarious position might push the team to make a swift change. Schumacher suggested that Lawson’s confidence has taken a hit and pointed out that his admission of having no time could hint at internal pressures. However, Schumacher also noted the challenge any driver might face against a seasoned champion like Verstappen in an underperforming car. He recommended Red Bull invest in improving the RB21 instead of hastily swapping drivers.
There’s talk of Red Bull holding a meeting to discuss the future lineup. Lawson’s performance metrics reportedly lag behind those of his predecessor, Sergio Perez. Team advisor Helmut Marko’s remarks that “we are worried” but not “throwing in the towel” suggest the team is still weighing its options.
Meanwhile, sending Tsunoda into the cockpit doesn’t guarantee better results. Schumacher hinted that even if Tsunoda were to drive the RB21, he might not fare better than Lawson. Hence, continuing with Lawson and focusing on car improvements might be a more strategic approach. Tsunoda’s current success with Racing Bulls also suggests he might not want to switch unless significant car upgrades are assured.
The upcoming Red Bull meeting will likely be pivotal in deciding Liam Lawson’s immediate future with the team. As Yuki Tsunoda stands ready to step in, the team must weigh the potential impact of a driver change against the ongoing struggle to enhance their car’s performance. With the clock ticking, both Lawson and Red Bull face a critical juncture in their 2025 season.
