Confirmed: Red Bull has dropped Liam Lawson and replaced him with Yuki Tsunoda

Well, this is rather brutal, isn't it? Liam Lawson has been dropped by Red Bull and demoted back to its junior team after just two race weekends as Max Verstappen’s teammate.

As a result, Yuki Tsunoda will finally make the step up from Racing Bulls (or whatever it’s called at this point), with the 24-year-old jumping into the second Red Bull for the Japanese Grand Prix next week.

Rumours had been circulating about Lawson’s future in the senior team after he qualified last for both the sprint race and grand prix in China, eventually finishing 14th and 12th. That came just a week after he qualified 18th in Melbourne and crashed out of the race on lap 47. Still, this might just be the harshest axing of a second driver yet from Red Bull.

“It has been difficult to see Liam struggle with the RB21 at the first two races and, as a result, we have collectively taken the decision to make an early switch,” said team principal and CEO Christian Horner.

“We came into the 2025 season with two ambitions; to retain the World Drivers' Championship and to reclaim the World Constructors' title and this is a purely sporting decision.

“We acknowledge there is a lot of work to be done with the RB21 and Yuki's experience will prove highly beneficial in helping to develop the current car. We welcome him to the team and are looking forward to seeing him behind the wheel of the RB21.

“We have a duty of care to protect and develop Liam and together, we see that after such a difficult start, it makes sense to act quickly so Liam can gain experience, as he continues his F1 career with Visa Cash App Racing Bulls, an environment and a team he knows very well.”

Yikes. Maybe Sergio Perez wasn’t doing such a bad job after all?