Speculation is swirling around Liam Lawson’s future with Red Bull Racing. Reports suggest that the team may replace the New Zealand driver with Japanese racer Yuki Tsunoda. Dutch newspapers, including De Telegraaf and De Limburger, claim that Tsunoda will take over Lawson’s seat starting at the Japanese Grand Prix next week, following a meeting in Dubai.
An official announcement is expected soon, but Red Bull has not commented on the situation yet. Lawson’s representatives have stated they are unsure if the reports are finalized.
Lawson was promoted to the main Red Bull team this season after driving for the Racing Bulls, Red Bull’s feeder team. He stepped in for Sergio Perez to partner with four-time world champion Max Verstappen. However, Lawson has faced challenges in his first two races in Australia and China, struggling to score any points.
In contrast, Tsunoda has had a solid start to the season, earning three points from a sixth-place finish in the Shanghai sprint. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner acknowledged Lawson’s difficulties after the Chinese Grand Prix, stating that the team will continue to support him.
Verstappen currently sits second in the driver standings, just eight points behind McLaren’s Lando Norris. He has expressed that the car is tough to handle, a sentiment echoed by Lawson, who admitted he is finding it hard to extract performance from the vehicle.
Red Bull has a history of changing drivers alongside Verstappen, who is firmly established as the team’s number one. With Lawson yet to find his footing, the potential swap with Tsunoda seems increasingly likely as the team aims to improve its performance.