JUST IN : Liam Lawson issues official statement after Red Bull F1 axe… Read more

Liam Lawson Responds After Red Bull Demotion

Liam Lawson has spoken out after Red Bull confirmed he will no longer be driving for the team for the rest of the 2025 Formula 1 season. The young New Zealander will be replaced by Yuki Tsunoda, who will join Max Verstappen at Red Bull starting from the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix.

Lawson, 23, will return to Racing Bulls, Red Bull’s sister team, where he will partner with Isack Hadjar for the remainder of the season. Red Bull officially announced the change on Thursday, and Lawson has since shared his reaction to the decision.

“It’s tough, but I’m grateful for everything that has brought me to this point. To everyone who has supported me, thank you—it means the world,” Lawson stated. He also expressed his enthusiasm about rejoining Racing Bulls, saying, “Thank you @visacashapprb for the warm welcome. I’m excited and ready to get to work at one of my favorite places.”

Lawson’s demotion comes after a difficult start to the 2025 season. In the opening two races, he failed to score any points, finishing outside the top 10 in both Melbourne and Shanghai. He also missed out on the top eight in the sprint race in China. Given his struggles with the RB21 car, Red Bull has opted for an early driver swap in an attempt to improve their performance.

Currently, the team is focused on closing a 42-point gap to McLaren in the constructors’ championship. Despite Verstappen securing the drivers’ title last year, Red Bull finished only third in the team standings due to inconsistent results from Sergio Perez. Team principal Christian Horner and the Red Bull leadership appear determined to avoid a repeat of last season’s outcome

Addressing the decision to replace Lawson, Horner acknowledged the difficulty of the move but emphasized the team’s commitment to the young driver’s development.

“It has been tough to watch Liam struggle with the RB21 in the first two races. After careful consideration, we have collectively decided to make an early switch,” Horner explained.

He added that the priority is to protect Lawson’s growth in F1. “We have a duty of care to support Liam, and given his difficult start, it makes sense to act quickly. This will allow him to gain more experience in an environment he knows well at Visa Cash App Racing Bulls.”

With Tsunoda stepping up to the main Red Bull team, he will have the opportunity to race in front of his home fans in Suzuka as a senior Red Bull driver for the first time. The Japanese Grand Prix will be a crucial test for both Tsunoda and Red Bull as they aim to strengthen their position in the constructors’ standings.

All eyes are now on Suzuka, where Red Bull’s latest driver shake-up will be put to the test.