Liam Lawson claims he was ‘shocked’ by Red Bull demotion as the 23-year-old aims to prove Christian Horner wrong in this weekend’s Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix.
The New Zealand driver who was initially selected as reigning world champion Max Verstappen’s teammate for the 2025 F1 season, was unexpectedly demoted to the team’s junior squad Racing Bulls after just two races.
Liam Lawson’s Red Bull demotion followed disappointing performances in the opening rounds of the season. At the Australian Grand Prix, he crashed out in challenging wet conditions while in China he struggled to find pace, qualifying last for both the main race and sprint event.
The disappointing results were deemed insufficient by team management leading to his replacement by Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda ahead of his home race at Suzuka.
While the move came as a surprise to many, it underscored Red Bull’s reputation for making swift and ruthless decisions regarding their driver lineup, a hallmark of their approach to maintaining competitiveness.
Team principal Christian Horner offered insight into the rationale behind the controversial decision, describing it as “horrible” but necessary for both Lawson’s development and the team’s performance goals.
Speaking about his Red Bull demotion, Lawson admitted that he was blindsided by the decision and had hoped to represent the team at the Japanese Grand Prix.
“I had no idea in China, it was something that was decided I guess the Monday or Tuesday afterwards,” he told SKY Sports F1 in Tokyo. “I found out after China basically.
“It was I think for all of us probably more unexpected, but it was after the weekend. It was more of a done deal I would say.
“I left China starting preparations for Japan and basically I had a phone call saying this was what was going to happen. I think I was surprised.
“Obviously it’s very early in the season, and I was hoping to go to a track that I’ve raced before and have a clean weekend to have a chance like that.”
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Despite his disappointment, Lawson has displayed remarkable resilience and determination to prove his worth in Formula 1. He revealed his commitment to making the most out of his current opportunity with Racing Bulls and demonstrate that he deserves a place on motorsport’s biggest stage.
“For me the main thing is being in a car,” Lawson added. “I have the opportunity to prove I belong here and that’s what I’ll try and do.
“And that’s what I do every single time I get in the car and that’s what I’ll be doing this weekend. Things change very quickly.
“In terms of where my future is, I don’t know, and for me the only way I can control that is by driving fast. I think we know how F1 is and how quickly things change.
“If I look back a year ago, I had no seat – I was here a year ago watching and wishing I was racing. Then I had the opportunity to race in the last year and the opportunity then to go to Red Bull, so a lot has happened in 12 months.”
Lawson’s Red Bull demotion now gives Yuki Tsunoda a significant boost ahead of his home Grand Prix at Suzuka, with the move likely aimed at capitalizing on local support and boosting the energy drink manufacturer’s presence in Japan.
Tsunoda brings experience and familiarity with the team’s operations, having previously raced for AlphaTauri, Red Bull’s sister team.
As Formula 1 heads into the Japanese Grand Prix weekend, all eyes will be on Tsunoda as he takes on the challenge of representing Red Bull alongside Verstappen at Suzuka.
Meanwhile, Lawson will look to make an impact with Racing Bulls and keep his dream alive in what is often described as one of the most demanding sports in the world.
