Liam Lawson
might be substituted for Red Bull by
Yuki Tsunoda
As early as the Japanese Grand Prix, he comprehends.
Despite facing challenges early in the season, Red Bull is contemplating altering their driver lineup before the Suzuka race. According to reports from paddock insiders, Tsunoda is being considered as a possible substitute for Lawson.
Even though no definitive choice has been made yet, talks regarding this situation have started – and it’s believed that swapping drivers between these two squads might be quite probable.
Lawson has faced a difficult campaign up until now. In the opening round of the season in Australia, he secured 18th place on the grid and, despite not making much headway during the race, ended up crashing out on lap 46.
The squad was optimistic about progressing in China, yet Lawson secured the final spot in qualifying for both the sprint and feature races, trailing his teammate significantly.
Max Verstappen
nearing closer to a second per lap. He concluded with a 14th place finish in Saturday’s sprint race and ended up 15th in the grand prix.
On Saturday afternoon, when addressing the press, Lawson acknowledged that he still needs to accomplish quite a bit to fully understand the intricacies of the RB21.
“It’s genuinely quite challenging,” he stated to Sky Sports F1. “The timeframe is extremely limited—we all know this—but frankly, it shouldn’t be seen as an excuse.”
Liam Lawson, from Red Bull Racing, along with Helmut Marko, who is also affiliated with Red Bull Racing,
Photo credit: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images
When queried about areas for improvement, he stated: “It’s simply a matter of time. Sadly, I seem to lack the time.”
When these statements were presented to Red Bull’s motorsports consultant Helmut Marko, he replied with: “He is correct.”
Even though Marko did not clarify if Lawson will get additional time to enhance his performance, it seems that Lawson’s uncertainty about extracting greater speed has led Red Bull management to contemplate an early lineup adjustment—particularly considering Tsunoda’s strong showing this season.
The Japanese racer secured fifth spot during qualifying in Australia but ended up dropping to sixth midway through the race. However, due to a tactical misstep by Racing Bulls, he lost several places and ultimately crossed the finish line at twelfth position.
In China, Tsunoda demonstrated strong performance once more, securing sixth place in the sprint race as he kept rivals at bay.
Mercedes
of
Andrea Kimi Antonelli
Throughout the 19-lap competition, the Japanese driver experienced a front wing malfunction, leading to an unexpected pit stop later in the race. This setback pushed him down to 19th place in the main event held in Shanghai.
When asked about Tsunoda’s performance earlier in the weekend, Marko responded: “This year, Yuki is a completely new driver compared to previous years. He’s at the peak of his career. Clearly, he switched managers and adopted a fresh mindset. He seems more composed than ever. It did take some time, but now everything appears to be paying off.”
Given Tsunoda’s strong start to the season, discussions in the press about potentially elevating him to the main squad have begun – although it was not anticipated that Red Bull would seriously contemplate such an option so soon into the championship.
Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing F1 Team
Image courtesy of: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
Following his sixth-place finish in the sprint race, Tsunoda was questioned during his media briefing about swapping positions with Lawson at Suzuka. He responded, “Japan? Yes, definitely 100%. The [Red Bull] car is quicker.”
is aware that conversations will carry on following the race in Shanghai, with an ultimate choice — regarding whether to allow Lawson additional time for improvement or to promptly substitute him with Tsunoda — anticipated next week.
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