According to reports, a dismal showing in the first two races of the 2025 F1 season got Liam Lawson sacked as Red Bull makes yet another controversial decision to replace a driver after a brief stint.
The young New Zealander who was promoted to the senior team as Max Verstappen’s teammate following Sergio Pérez’s departure has been replaced by Yuki Tsunoda in a decision that has sent shockwaves through the F1 paddock.
Netherlands publication De Telegraaf reported that Red Bull shareholders want Liam Lawson sacked and a high-level meeting in Dubai sealed his fate with the Milton-Keynes outfit set to make the official announcement later this week.
This dramatic development not only highlights the ruthless nature of Red Bull’s driver program but also raises questions about the team’s approach to nurturing talent and managing expectations.
Lawson’s brief Red Bull stint
Lawson’s tenure as a Red Bull driver began with high hopes but quickly spiraled into disappointment. His debut at the Australian Grand Prix ended in disaster when he crashed out of the race, failing to finish and leaving him with no points on the board.
The struggles continued at the Chinese Grand Prix where he qualified last for both the sprint race and the main event.
Despite finishing 12th in the Grand Prix, Lawson’s performance was aided by disqualifications and technical issues faced by other drivers, underscoring his inability to extract competitive pace from the RB21 car.
The statistics paint a grim picture of Lawson’s short-lived Red Bull career. Over three qualifying sessions, he failed to make it out of Q1 even once, with an average gap of +0.880 seconds to Verstappen—worse than Pérez’s performance in comparable conditions during his final races with the team.
These numbers highlight Lawson’s struggle to adapt to a car that is notoriously difficult to drive, a challenge that has overwhelmed many of Verstappen’s previous teammates.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner had initially expressed cautious optimism about Lawson’s potential but acknowledged that the team would review his performance after the opening rounds.
Liam Lawson sacked in Dubai meeting
Behind the scenes, however, discussions about Lawson’s future were reportedly underway even before the Chinese Grand Prix. A high-level meeting in Dubai involving Red Bull shareholders and engine partner Honda appears to have sealed his fate.
The decision to replace Lawson with Tsunoda is believed to be influenced not only by sporting considerations but also by financial incentives tied to Honda, which has long supported Tsunoda.
The manner in which Lawson learned of his demotion has added another layer of controversy to this saga. Reports suggest that he was informed not by Red Bull management but through media outlets such as De Telegraaf.
The lack of direct communication has drawn criticism from within the F1 community, with many questioning Red Bull’s handling of such a sensitive matter.
For a driver who had been part of Red Bull’s junior program for years and had shown promise during his substitute appearances in 2023, this abrupt and impersonal dismissal feels particularly harsh.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull’s star driver and reigning world champion, is reportedly unhappy with the decision to have Liam Lawson sacked so early in the season.
Verstappen has previously spoken about the challenges of driving the RB21 and has expressed sympathy for Lawson’s struggles. His dissatisfaction with the team’s management decisions could have broader implications for Red Bull, especially given the Dutchman’s importance to their long-term plans.
READ ALSO: Verstappen claims Red Bull struggles ‘hard to fix’ after dismal Australian GP practice
Tsunoda’s promotion
Yuki Tsunoda now steps into one of the most coveted—and challenging—seats in Formula 1 as he prepares to race alongside Verstappen at his home Grand Prix in Japan.
Tsunoda has shown flashes of brilliance during his time with Racing Bulls (formerly AlphaTauri) and has already scored points this season. However, stepping into a car designed around Verstappen’s driving style will be no small task.
The spotlight will be firmly on Tsunoda as he seeks to justify Red Bull’s faith in him while navigating the immense pressure that comes with being part of a top-tier team.
For Lawson, this demotion represents a significant setback but not necessarily the end of his Formula 1 career. He is expected to return to Racing Bulls alongside rookie Isack Hadjar, where he will have an opportunity to rebuild his confidence and prove his worth.
