Liam Lawson's poor form triggers early season swap

Liam Lawson’s much-hyped arrival at Red Bull for the 2025 Formula 1 season has quickly unraveled into a nightmare start, prompting whispers of an unprecedented early-season driver swap just two races into the campaign. The 23-year-old New Zealander, who earned his promotion after a stellar cameo with Racing Bulls in 2024, has failed to find his footing in the high-stakes environment alongside reigning champion Max Verstappen. His season opener in Australia ended in a dramatic crash on lap 12, while the Chinese Grand Prix saw him qualify at the back of the grid for both the sprint and main race, ultimately limping home in 12th place—hardly the debut Red Bull envisioned when they axed veteran Sergio Perez to make room for fresh talent. Lawson’s struggles with the twitchy RB21 car have exposed a steep learning curve, and his lack of pace has drawn sharp criticism from pundits and fans alike. Meanwhile, Yuki Tsunoda, now thriving at Racing Bulls with two top-eight finishes, has emerged as a tantalizing option for Red Bull’s impatient brass. Team principal Christian Horner, never one to shy away from bold moves, has remained coy on Lawson’s future, while reports of an emergency summit in Dubai suggest the team is already weighing its options. With the Japanese Grand Prix looming, the pressure is mounting on Lawson to deliver—or risk becoming the shortest-tenured Red Bull driver in recent memory. This unfolding drama not only underscores the brutal expectations within the Red Bull camp but also reignites debate over their cutthroat approach to nurturing young talent in the shadow of Verstappen’s dominance.