- Red Bull demoted Liam Lawson to Racing Bulls after his early season performance failed to meet team standards.
- An internal review of Lawson’s data, including poor qualifying results in China, led to a swift decision to reassign him.
- Yuki Tsunoda, having shown strong qualifying and race performances, was promoted to the senior team alongside Max Verstappen.
Red Bull Racing has acted swiftly following Liam Lawson’s difficult start to the 2025 season, opting to demote him to Racing Bulls and promote Yuki Tsunoda to the senior team alongside Max Verstappen. The decision comes as part of a broader strategy to maintain the high performance that has become synonymous with the team.
Last season’s struggles were a key backdrop to the move. After a challenging campaign where Sergio Perez finished a distant eighth in the Drivers’ Championship, Red Bull ended his contract early. With Perez’s departure, the team was left with a crucial choice on which driver to elevate from their Racing Bulls squad.
Lawson had initially impressed during tests and while substituting for Daniel Ricciardo, which earned him a promotion. However, a lackluster pre-season test in Bahrain, a troubled debut weekend in Australia, and a record-setting low performance in China revealed persistent issues. Internal reviews of his data from both testing and the early races confirmed that his performance did not meet the team’s demanding standards.
In a decisive internal meeting, key figures and shareholders agreed that Lawson should return to Racing Bulls immediately, allowing him time to rebuild his confidence away from the intense scrutiny of the main team. This opened the door for Tsunoda, who had delivered strong qualifying and race performances early in the campaign, to take his place in the senior squad.
The move represents one of the shortest stints in Red Bull’s history and highlights the organization’s commitment to not retaining underperforming drivers. While Lawson has a chance to regain form with the sister team, Tsunoda now faces the challenge of proving his worth in a high-pressure environment. Red Bull’s decision underscores its resolve to maintain a competitive edge throughout the season.
