Red Bull eyes mid-season driver swap: Tsunoda to replace Lawson

WEB DESK: Red Bull Racing’s driver lineup is under the spotlight, as reports suggest Yuki Tsunoda could replace Liam Lawson ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, which is set to begin on April 4.

According to Dutch media outlets De Telegraaf and De Limburger, the decision to promote the Honda-backed Tsunoda was reportedly made during a recent Red Bull meeting in Dubai. An official announcement is expected later this week, although Red Bull has yet to comment on the situation.

The New Zealand Herald reported that Lawson’s representatives are “unaware if what’s been reported has been finalised by Red Bull,” indicating that discussions may still be ongoing.

Lawson’s promotion this season followed a brief stint with Red Bull’s feeder team, Visa Cash App RB, in 2024. The 23-year-old replaced Sergio Perez to race alongside four-time world champion Max Verstappen. However, after two disappointing race weekends in Australia and China, Lawson has yet to secure any points.

Tsunoda, who partnered with Lawson at the feeder team last year, has performed well this season, scoring three points with a sixth-place finish in the Shanghai sprint last weekend.

Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner acknowledged after the Chinese Grand Prix that Lawson had been struggling but reassured that the team would continue to support him.

Meanwhile, Verstappen holds second place in the drivers’ standings, trailing McLaren’s Lando Norris by eight points.

If confirmed, Tsunoda’s promotion would mark yet another mid-season change by Red Bull, a team known for its frequent lineup reshuffles in pursuit of peak performance alongside their clear number-one driver.

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