Red Bull announces Tsunoda will replace Lawson from Japanese GP

Yuki Tsunoda will race for Red Bull from the System 1 Japanese Grand Prix onwards with Liam Lawson returning to Racing Bulls after a troublesome begin to 2025.

Lawson was promoted to the senior crew having contested the ultimate six races of final season for Racing Bulls instead of Daniel Ricciardo. The Kiwi racer was then most popular as Sergio Perez’s Pink Bull alternative regardless of Tsunoda having accomplished 4 seasons with the sister squad.

Having certified 18th within the Australia season-opener, Lawson was plum final in Shanghai qualifying for each the dash race and the grand prix.

He has began each of his grands prix for Pink Bull up to now from the pitlane, with the 23-year-old rookie crashing out in tough circumstances in Melbourne and ending twelfth in China, benefitting from different vehicles having points in addition to a trio of disqualifications additional up the sector.

As reported by Autosport, the prospect of Tsunoda being lined as much as exchange Lawson from his house grand prix at Suzuka materialised instantly after the Chinese language race.

On the time, crew boss Christian Horner said Red Bull would look into the data gathered from Lawson’s automobile and analyse his efficiency. Now the choice has been taken to usher in Tsunoda.

Autosport understands a key a part of the early name was to faucet into Tsunoda’s better expertise to assist develop the RB21 alongside reigning world champion Max Verstappen and that it was a gaggle determination fairly than being Horner’s particular person selection.

“It has been troublesome to see Liam wrestle with the RB21 on the first two races and, consequently, we’ve collectively taken the choice to make an early change,” Horner mentioned.

“We got here into the 2025 season, with two ambitions, to retain the world drivers’ championship and to reclaim the world constructors’ title and it is a purely sporting determination.

“We acknowledge there’s plenty of work to be carried out with the RB21 and Yuki’s expertise will show extremely helpful in serving to to develop the present automobile.

“We welcome him to the crew and are wanting ahead to seeing him behind the wheel of the RB21.

“We have now an obligation of care to guard and develop Liam and collectively, we see that after such a troublesome begin, it is smart to behave shortly so Liam can acquire expertise, as he continues his F1 profession with Visa Money App Racing Bulls, an atmosphere and a crew he is aware of very effectively.”

Whereas Tsunoda’s promotion had been extensively anticipated, it was unclear whether or not Lawson would return to Racing Bulls or be taken out of the firing line altogether.

Franco Colapinto, who raced for Williams for the second half of final season earlier than becoming a member of Alpine as a reserve driver for 2025, had been linked with the seat vacated by Tsunoda however in the end Lawson will get one other likelihood to indicate what he can do.

The highlight will probably be firmly on Tsunoda when he heads to Suzuka subsequent week and he will probably be eager to enhance on his greatest end in F1 up to now — fourth place in Abu Dhabi in his debut season of 2021.