After just two races in the Formula 1 2025 season, Liam Lawson’s seat at Red Bull Racing is already under scrutiny following a challenging start. Speculation is growing that Yuki Tsunoda could replace the New Zealander, as Red Bull weighs its options for the remainder of the season.
Red Bull F1 Evaluates Lawson’s Performance
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has emphasized the importance of data-driven decision-making regarding Lawson’s future. Following a disappointing Chinese Grand Prix, where Lawson struggled in both Sprint Qualifying and the Grand Prix, Horner acknowledged the team’s need to analyze performance metrics before making any decisions.
“Without data, you’re just another person with an opinion,” Horner stated, echoing business theorist William Edwards Deming. “We’ve gathered 56 laps of valuable data, and we’ll take that information to evaluate where we can support him.”
Liam Lawson’s Struggles in Early Races
Since his promotion to the senior Red Bull Racing F1 team, Lawson has faced significant challenges. He qualified 18th in Australia and was last in both Sprint and Grand Prix qualifying in Shanghai. Starting both races from the pit lane, he suffered a DNF in Melbourne and finished P12 in China, partly benefiting from retirements and disqualifications ahead of him.
Reports suggest that Red Bull is considering a mid-season F1 driver switch, with Yuki Tsunoda—currently at Racing Bulls—being a strong candidate for a promotion. Tsunoda was left at Red Bull’s junior team when the decision was made to prioritize Lawson, but his consistent performances may have reignited discussions about his F1 future.
Christian Horner on Potential Red Bull F1 Lineup Changes
Horner remained non-committal about Tsunoda’s possible move to Red Bull, refusing to confirm or deny the speculation ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix.
“There’s always speculation in the paddock,” Horner said. “We’ve just finished the race in Shanghai, and now we’ll analyze the data thoroughly. There’s no official decision yet, and everything remains speculative for now.”
Despite Lawson’s struggles, Horner insisted that the young driver still has potential. “Liam is a capable driver, and we need to support him. We’re not seeing his full ability right now, and we’re working to understand why.”
What’s Next for Red Bull’s F1 Driver Lineup?
With the Japanese Grand Prix approaching, Red Bull will continue to monitor Lawson’s performance while evaluating potential changes to its lineup. The team’s engineers are reviewing over 600 car sensors to identify areas for improvement, but pressure is mounting as Tsunoda continues to impress at Racing Bulls.
Whether Red Bull will make an F1 driver switch mid-season remains to be seen, but with just two races completed, the team is keeping all options open.
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