Red Bull insiders used just one word to describe Liam Lawson behind the scenes before Yuki Tsunoda swap

After just two races in the 2025 Formula 1 season, Red Bull have made another mid-season driver change.

Liam Lawson has been demoted back to Racing Bulls after a torrid start to the 2025 season with the Milton Keynes-based outfit. While Max Verstappen is second in the championship after the first two races, the New Zealander has failed to score a point.

Failing to get out of Q1 at the Australian Grand Prix, Lawson crashed out in the tricky conditions having never driven the track before that weekend. Things got worse at the Chinese Grand Prix as he qualified last for the Sprint and main race.

Red Bull were frustrated with Lawson’s lack of ‘sensation’ with the RB21 as he limped home P12 on Sunday. He actually finished 15th but was bumped up after Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc and Pierre Gasly were disqualified.

The 23-year-old’s struggles with the Red Bull machine have been clear to see. Christian Horner has been proved wrong about Lawson as he said his driving style was ‘more aligned’ with Verstappen than Sergio Perez – the first two races say otherwise.

Now, Lawson finds himself back in Faenza as he returns to Racing Bulls for the remainder of the season. Yuki Tsunoda has finally been given the call from Red Bull after four years with the junior team.

Red Bull insiders say Liam Lawson was ‘frazzled’ and lacking confidence behind the scenes

Horner says Red Bull have a ‘duty of care’ to protect Lawson and have taken him out of the firing line. Fans had been demanding Tsunoda to join Red Bull after seeing the Kiwi driver’s dismal start to 2025.

The Japanese driver will adorn the Red Bull colours for the first time at his home race at Suzuka. Honda offered £17 million to Red Bull to get Tsunoda into the team for the remainder of the season.

Tsunoda has already been in the simulator at Milton Keynes – another damaging blow to Lawson who was already feeling low on confidence behind the scenes.

Craig Slater told Sky Sports that Red Bull insiders had been describing the New Zealander as ‘frazzled’ behind the scenes as he struggled to get to grips with the RB21.

“I just want to deal with the Lawson dropping in a line first and that’s that, people explained to me that had a viewpoint on how he interacted with the team.

“He had almost had an adverse reaction to this car, he didn’t gel with it at all. He was, and this is the word some insiders used, frazzled and he had completely lost confidence over these first two races.

“Qualifying 20th twice at the Chinese Grand Prix in a car which sits second in the championship. So, he’d almost lost his reference point with the car.”

READ MORE: Who is Racing Bulls F1 driver Liam Lawson? Everything you need to know

Liam Lawson’s demotion to Racing Bulls may be a blessing in disguise

Lawson will no doubt be distraught over Red Bull’s decision, especially considering they had given him their full support in the offseason.

Wil Buxton labelled Lawson’s dropping as ‘laughable’, saying that Red Bull had reached a new low by cutting ties after two races. It marks the shortest stint at the team in their history.

However, a return to Racing Bulls may be the move he needs to regain his confidence. Firstly, Lawson knows the setup well from his 11 Grand Prix in 2023 and 2024.

Furthermore, the VCARB 02 has proven to have some performance, despite only scoring three points thus far. Tsunoda and Isack Hadjar reached Q3 in Shanghai – the former achieved that feat in Melbourne.

Even Verstappen said Lawson would be better off at Racing Bulls as their car is easier to handle than the RB21. With the Faenza outfit’s proven performance in 2025 and Red Bull’s difficulties, Lawson may benefit more than Tsunoda from this situation.