Red Bull Racing’s driver lineup is under scrutiny as reports suggest Yuki Tsunoda will replace Liam Lawson ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, which begins on April 4.
According to Dutch 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. So far, Red Bull has not commented on the matter.
The New Zealand Herald reported that Lawson’s representatives are “unaware if what’s been reported has been finalised by Red Bull,” signaling that discussions may still be ongoing.
Lawson’s promotion this season came after a brief stint with Red Bull’s feeder team, Visa Cash App RB, in 2024. The 23-year-old was brought in to replace Sergio Perez and race alongside four-time world champion Max Verstappen. However, Lawson has yet to score any points after two underwhelming race weekends in Australia and China.
Tsunoda, who partnered Lawson at the feeder team last year, has made a strong case for himself this season, scoring three points with a sixth-place finish in the Shanghai sprint last Saturday.
Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner acknowledged after the Chinese Grand Prix that Lawson has been struggling but assured that the team would continue to support him.
Verstappen, meanwhile, sits second in the drivers’ standings, eight points behind McLaren’s Lando Norris.
If confirmed, Tsunoda’s promotion would mark yet another mid-season switch by Red Bull — a team known for its aggressive lineup reshuffles aimed at maintaining performance alongside their clear number one driver.
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