Yuki Tsunoda to replace Liam Liam Lawson at the Japanese Grand Prix, confirmed Red Bull
Red Bull has long been renowned for the ruthlessness with which they manage their young pilot program, but also in that context that drops Lawson after two races is extraordinary.
Horner’s declaration said: “We have a duty of diligence to protect and develop Liam and together we see that, after such a difficult start, it makes sense to act quickly so that Liam can acquire experience while continues his career in F1 with racing bulls, an environment and a team that he knows very well.”
Tsunoda’s debut for the Senior team will arrive in his home race in Suzuka, a track owned by the Japanese car company Honda, who is the partner of the Red Bull engine and has long been a supporter of the driver’s career.
He was with the second Red Bull team, previously called Alpha Tauri and RB, since he made his debut in F1 in 2021.
His promotion is an opportunity to secure his career as F1, at a time when his future in sport seemed uncertain.
Honda is moving to Aston Martin for 2026 and there is no room for Tsunoda in that team.
If he can test himself in Red Bull, he has the opportunity to show the garments of the team that he should be considered as a future pilot for their team despite their long skepticism on his latest potential.
Tsunoda had a positive beginning for the 2025 season, qualifying the fifth in Australia and the ninth in China, where he closed in sixth place in the sprint race.
Lawson will be notified that his decoction is an opportunity for him to reconstruct his career, in the same way as the previous Red Bull who refuses Gasly and Alex Albon have done.
Gasly was relegated to the second Red Bull team after only half a season in 2019 in an exchange with Albon, to which a season and a half was given before being relegated to reserve the driver instead of Perez.
Since then Gasly has moved to Alpine and Albon to Williams, and both have thrived.
Perez no longer has an F1 place after being abandoned at the end of last season with a payment of the value of many million dollars.
