Liam Lawson has joined Red Bull for the 2025 season after replacing Sergio Perez as Max Verstappen’s teammate, yet his future at the Formula 1 giant is already unclear.
The team from Milton Keynes will field a new driver line-up for the first time since 2021 this year after Perez cost Red Bull the defence of the F1 constructors’ championship to McLaren. While Verstappen still brought home the drivers’ title, Perez scored a huge 285 fewer points.
Perez ultimately finished the 2024 season just eighth in the drivers’ standings on 152 points, while Verstappen scored 437. So, Red Bull released Perez from his contract for 2025 and will now field academy product Lawson with Verstappen after promoting him from Racing Bulls.
Yuki Tsunoda is Red Bull’s ‘absolute last resort’ to replace Liam Lawson
Yet question marks still linger over how Lawson will cope as Verstappen’s teammate, despite Red Bull team principal Christian Horner only viewing the 22-year-old as a No2 to their four-time reigning champion. So, Red Bull have tentative plans to potentially replace Lawson, too.
That is according to Motorsport.com, which reports that Red Bull may axe the Kiwi if Lawson struggles like Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon fared alongside Verstappen. But his demise would still likely not offer Racing Bulls pilot Yuki Tsunoda the promotion the 24-year-old has craved.
READ MORE: Sergio Perez’s Red Bull record compared to Max Verstappen’s ex-teammates
After snubbing Tsunoda to promote Lawson despite the Japanese gem winning most of their head-to-head battles last year, Red Bull view him as their ‘absolute last resort’ to take over if the Kiwi labours. Neither Horner nor motorsport advisor Helmut Marko are keen on Tsunoda.
| Category | Yuki Tsunoda | Liam Lawson |
| 2024 points | 8 | 4 |
| Grand Prix results | 4 | 2 |
| Grand Prix qualifying | 6 | 0 |
| Grand Prix wins | 0 | 0 |
| Grand Prix poles | 0 | 0 |
| Grand Prix podiums | 0 | 0 |
| Best finish | 7th | 9th |
| Retirements | 1 | 0 |
| Retirements (classified finish) | 0 | 1 |
| Fastest laps | 0 | 0 |
| Grand Prix points finishes | 2 | 2 |
| Sprint results | 0 | 3 |
| Sprint Qualifying | 0 | 3 |
| Sprint wins | 0 | 0 |
| Sprint poles | 0 | 0 |
| Sprint podiums | 0 | 0 |
Yuki Tsunoda’s F1 future could be at Aston Martin or Haas instead of Red Bull
A promotion to the main team has always seemed out of reach for the Honda-backed talent as Red Bull feel Tsunoda is difficult to work with. His expletive-ridden remarks on their radio have often been criticised, even if Jenson Button thinks Tsunoda is no longer as ‘aggressive’.
Marko is already planning to replace Tsunoda at Racing Bulls, as well, with Red Bull’s junior Arvid Lindblad in line for a promotion to F1. The Briton will need to impress in the 17-year-old’s rookie Formula 2 season this year to show Marko that he is ready to replace Tsunoda.
While Horner and Marko remain reluctant to gift the Japanese gem a promotion to Red Bull, Haas boss Ayao Komatsu is a huge fan of Tsunoda. Komatsu also explored signing Tsunoda for the 2025 season and he may be an option again in the future, as well as for Aston Martin.
Honda’s switch to Aston Martin could offer Tsunoda a place at the Silverstone team, likely as a test and reserve driver if he moves in 2026. Most teams have their driver line-ups for next year locked in already, so Tsunoda could face a year on the sidelines before a return in 2027.
