Red Bull has allegedly made the decision to swap Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson ahead of the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix, according to reports.
Lawson was chosen ahead of Tsunoda to contest the 2025 season with Red Bull, but has so far had a torrid start to life with the Milton Keynes-based squad.
A Q1 exit and DNF at the Australian season-opener was followed by Lawson finishing last in qualifying in Shanghai last weekend en route to another scoreless result.
Speculation pointed towards Red Bull making the ruthless decision to axe Lawson, who admitted to not having much time to turn his troubles in the RB21 around.
Now, Canal+ and Dutch newspaper De Limburger have reported that Red Bull has decided to swap Tsunoda and Lawson ahead of the former’s home GP next weekend.
Reports indicate that Honda, a major backer of Tsunoda’s career, which is set to cut ties with Red Bull at the end of this season, is prepared to pay millions to land the Japanese driver a seat alongside Max Verstappen.
Tsunoda, meanwhile, said he’d “100 per cent” jump at the opportunity to drive the Red Bull at Suzuka when probed on the matter in China, believing it to be the faster car than his VCARB 02.
Vertsappen has been on record saying he thinks Lawson would go faster at Racing Bulls.
While there has been no official confirmation from Red Bull, there is no smoke without fire and senior advisor Helmut Marko has been talking up Tsunoda after a series of impressive performances to open the 2025 campaign.
“Yuki is a different Yuki from the years before,” Marko told Autosport. “He is in the form of his life.
“Obviously he changed his management. He has a different approach. He’s more mature. It took a while, but now it looks like it’s working.”
READ MORE – Red Bull praises Yuki Tsunoda as rumours swirl over potential Liam Lawson swap
Discussion about this post