Red Bull move confirmed as Kiwi rookie Liam Lawson officially dumped after two races

Liam Lawson has sensationally been axed after just two races, with Yuki Tsunoda promoted to the main team ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix.

Yuki Tsunoda will replace Liam Lawson at Red Bull Racing from this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix just two rounds into the season.

Lawson will see out the season at Racing Bulls, returning to the team at which he started 11 grands prix prior to his promotion this season.

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The move was heavily rumoured during the Chinese Grand Prix, where Lawson qualified last for both the sprint and the feature race. He finished well outside the points for both and far behind teammate Max Verstappen, who pinched a podium in the short Saturday race.

It compounded his difficult maiden in Australia, where he crashed out of the race after starting from pit lane.

The Kiwi had been inducted to Red Bull Racing to replace Sergio Pérez, who struggled badly last year, scoring just 13 points in the final nine rounds.

Lawson has now fallen on his sword just 13 days after first suiting up for the team for first practice in Melbourne.

“It has been difficult to see Liam struggle with the RB21 at the first two races, and as a result we have collectively taken the decision to make an early switch,” Red Bull Racing principal Christian Horner said.

“We have a duty of care to protect and develop Liam, and together we see that after such a difficult start it makes sense to act quickly so Liam can gain experience as he continues his F1 career with Racing Bulls, an environment and a team he knows very well.”

AUSTIN, TEXAS - OCTOBER 20: Liam Lawson of New Zealand and Visa Cash App RB and Yuki Tsunoda of Japan and Visa Cash App RB look on from the drivers parade prior to the F1 Grand Prix of United States at Circuit of The Americas on October 20, 2024 in Austin, Texas. Mark Thompson/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Mark Thompson / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

The move to promote Tsunoda in his place is a backflip for the senior Red Bull-backed team, the Japanese ace having never loomed large on Horner’s radar as a viable teammate for Verstappen until the team lost faith in Lawson’s potential.

Horner said he hoped Tsunoda, who is in his fifth season, could help the team move forward.

“We came into the 2025 season with two ambitions: to retain the world drivers championship and to reclaim the world constructors title, and this is a purely sporting decision,” he said.

“We acknowledge there is a lot of work to be done with the RB21, and Yuki’s experience will prove highly beneficial in helping to develop the current car.

“We welcome him to the team and are looking forward to seeing him behind the wheel of the RB21.”

Racing Bulls principal Laurent Mekies said he was pleased to see Tsunoda finally earn his promotion to the senior team.

“We’re incredibly proud of Yuki earning his well-deserved move to Red Bull Racing,” he said. “His progress last year, and more recently from the very start of 2025, has been nothing less than sensational.

Liam Lawson was preferred to Yuki Tsunoda ahead of this year but Red Bull has changed its mind.. (Photo by FADEL SENNA / AFP)

“Personally and collectively it has been an immense privilege to witness those progresses for all of us in Faenza and in Milton Keynes.

“Yuki’s energy and positivity has lightened up every corner of our factories and of our garage, and he will always be a Racing Bull.

“We wish him all the success he deserves at RBR.”

Mekies said his team would provide Lawson with an environment in which he could rebuild his confidence and recapture some of the form that proved so enticing for Red Bull Racing late last year.

“Everyone here at VCARB is looking forward to working hard with Liam to give him the best environment possible for him to shine in our car and to express the talent we all know he has,” he said.

“He fit in so well last year, and we cannot wait to challenge ourselves and grow as a team.

“With Isack [Hadjar] having started so strongly with us already, we know we have a young and strong line-up.”

Originally published as Red Bull move confirmed as Kiwi rookie Liam Lawson officially dumped after two races