Lawson on the Red Bull chopping block

Kiwi Liam Lawson appears set to be the latest young gun to be demoted from the Red Bull F1 team in favour of Yuki Tsunoda.

After just two races, multiple reports suggest the luckless Lawson will be dropped from Red Bull having struggled to come to grips with the RB21.

As a result, Tsunoda appears destined to finally be promoted to the top team after over four years in the junior team ahead of his home Japanese Grand Prix.

If the move does come to fruition as it is expected to arrive by the end of the week, Tsunoda would become the fifth driver to partner Max Verstappen in the six seasons since Daniel Riccardo left the team.

Initially Pierre Gasly was turned to before he was dropped in favour of rookie Alex Albon after 12 races.

Albon had the seat from the 2019 Belgian Grand Prix until 2021 when Sergio Perez was backed.

After picking up wins across his first three seasons, Perez was dumped after a winless 2024 despite having a year left on his contract.

Having shown promise across 11 starts spread across two years at Racing Bulls, Lawson was picked to replace Perez at the top team.

But after failing to get out of Q1, spinning in the Melbourne rain and qualifying last twice in Shanghai, it appears the Kiwi’s Red Bull career may be over almost as quickly as it started.

It will also mark a new record for swiftness in terms of Red Bull sackings after Danill Kvyat was pushed out in favour of Max Verstappen four races into the 2016 season.

The 23-year-old may be doing a straight swap with Tsunoda, 24, who will be rewarded for patience and in line for a dream home race in Suzuka.

He has four completed seasons under his belt with last year’s 12^th place his best result.

Tsunoda is the second highest of the four Red Bull backed drivers in the 2025 championship courtesy of his sixth place in the China Sprint and has made Q3 on both occasions.

The Japanese Grand Prix is on April 4-6.

Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images /Red Bull Content Pool

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