Red Bull Makes Shock Driver Change After Just Two Races

Red Bull Racing has reportedly decided to replace Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda as Max Verstappen's teammate, just two races into the 2025 Formula 1 season, according to Motorsport Week.

Tsunoda is expected to make his debut for the senior Red Bull team at next week's Japanese Grand Prix, a home race for the Honda-backed driver.

Lawson, who earned a full-time seat with Red Bull for the 2025 season, struggled in his first two outings—failing to score a single point—while Verstappen challenged for the win in Australia and finished fourth in China. These performances appear to have triggered a swift response from the Milton Keynes-based outfit.

Reports suggest that Honda, a key Red Bull partner and Tsunoda’s long-time supporter, is prepared to offer a significant financial package to secure the Japanese driver's promotion ahead of the Suzuka weekend.

The Japanese Grand Prix will take place from April 4 to April 6.