Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen receives a new teammate at Red Bull Racing after just two season races. Yuki Tsunoda (24) is promoted to the top racing team before his home race in Japan (April 6), the New Zealand Liam Lawson (23) has to clear his cockpit and is now driving again for the sister team Racing Bulls. Red Bull confirmed the exchange on Thursday, and this measure had been expected since the past race in China.
“It was hard to see how Liam had to fight with the RB21 in the first two races,” said Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner: “So we decided together for an early change. We want to win the driver’s World Cup again and we want to take the designer title back. It is a purely sporty decision.”
Lawson had already said little hopefully after the race in Shanghai. “I am not naive. It is completely clear to me that I am here to bring performance. If I don’t, I will soon be gone,” he said: “I need time to get to know the car. But I don’t.” According to team, Tsunoda’s experience should now help develop the RB21 that has not yet been convincing. However, one still sees itself as a duty to drive Lawson’s career ahead. The 23-year-old has been part of the Red Bull universe since 2019, Tsunoda has been driving in Formula 1 since 2021.
Lawson had replaced the Mexican Sergio Pérez for the new season, who had also mostly disappointed on Verstappen’s side. Lawson now came out of the starting blocks particularly badly. While Verstappen is constantly driving in the front in a weakening car and is currently second in the World Cup, Lawson remained without a single point gain.
It remains to be seen whether the change for Tsunoda means a career jump: Again and again ambitious pilots have failed in recent years if they went into team comparison with Verstappen. Most recently, the Pérez, Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon passed. The two Red Bull teams also perform the change during a season.