The first break in the 2025 Formula 1 season has forced Red Bull to consider an uncharacteristically early driver swap.
After the Chinese Grand Prix after just two race weekends, Red Bull are wondering whether they’ve made the right decision calling up Liam Lawson over the winter break.
Lawson could be swapped with Yuki Tsunoda ahead of the next race after failing to score a point or advance beyond the first session in each of his three qualifying efforts.
If a swap did happen, Lawson would have the shortest Red Bull career in F1 history unless he could then earn a promotion again further down the line.
While a demotion to Racing Bulls might hurt, Max Verstappen believes Lawson would be better off in Red Bull’s junior team as the car appears to be much easier to drive.
However, Franco Colapinto has seen his name thrown into the ring as a potential solution at Racing Bulls having joined Alpine over the winter from Williams.
Colapinto is an option for Racing Bulls and Red Bull’s chief advisor Helmut Marko used the race in Shanghai to potentially explore whether the Argentine might be available.
READ MORE: Who is Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko? Everything to know
Helmut Marko visited Alpine hospitality during Chinese Grand Prix to discuss Franco Colapinto
A report from Motorsport has shared more details about the potential consequences of Lawson’s slow start at Red Bull.
They believe that there are three options currently available to Red Bull when it comes to Lawson.
They can either give him more time and use the upcoming triple header to help him learn more about the car and close the gap to Verstappen.
A swap between himself and Tsunoda is also on the table with Red Bull impressed with Tsunoda’s feedback during his post-season test run with the team.
Or, the final option would be to move Lawson into a reserve driver role for the time being which would open up a seat at Racing Bulls for another driver like Colapinto.
| Position | Drivers’ Championship | Points |
| 1 |
Lando Norris |
44 |
| 2 |
Max Verstappen |
36 |
| 3 |
George Russell |
35 |
| 4 |
Oscar Piastri |
34 |
| 5 |
Andrea Kimi Antonelli |
22 |
| 6 |
Alexander Albon |
16 |
| 7 |
Esteban Ocon |
10 |
| 8 |
Lance Stroll |
10 |
| 9 |
Lewis Hamilton |
9 |
| 10 |
Charles Leclerc |
8 |
The report states that Marko was ‘spotted in Alpine hospitality’ on race day in China ‘but not to sample French coffee.’
They go on to say that the story is currently being ‘driven’ by Colapinto’s camp as although he was signed by Alpine to provide an immediate option to replace Jack Doohan, the 21-year-old is happy to return to the grid with whichever team offers him an opportunity.
The Australian is performing better than expected, outqualifying Pierre Gasly for the Sprint Race in China and showing decent pace in Australia, although he’s made mistakes in every race thus far.
READ MORE: Who is Alpine reserve driver Franco Colapinto? Everything to know
Why Red Bull were put off signing Franco Colapinto last season
This isn’t the first time that Colapinto and Red Bull have been linked despite the Argentine’s short Formula 1 career.
Red Bull were keen on Colapinto towards the end of last year when he was scoring points for Williams and Sergio Perez was having a particularly tough time.
However, Colapinto had two big crashes in Sao Paulo in treacherous conditions before another large shunt in Las Vegas trying to set a flying lap in qualifying.
Big impact for Franco Colapinto but he’s okay and out of the car 👍#F1 #LasVegasGP pic.twitter.com/glPNzell1L
— Formula 1 (@F1) November 23, 2024
That was enough to convince Red Bull to promote from within and give Isack Hadjar the opportunity after finishing runner-up in F2 last season and aside from his formation lap crash in Australia, he’s repaid that faith.
A straight swap between Lawson and Tsunoda seems like the most sensible option for Red Bull but that didn’t stop Marko at least enquiring about the 21-year-old’s availability in China.
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