Yuki Tsunoda will race for Crimson Bull from the Formulation 1 Japanese Grand Prix onwards, with Liam Lawson returning to Racing Bulls after a troublesome begin to 2025.
Lawson was promoted to the senior group having contested the ultimate six races of final yr for Racing Bulls as Daniel Ricciardo’s alternative. The Kiwi racer was most popular as Sergio Perez’s alternative regardless of Tsunoda having accomplished 4 seasons with the squad.
Having certified 18th within the season-opener Australia, Lawson was plum final in Shanghai qualifying for each the dash race and the grand prix.
He has began each of his grands prix for Crimson Bull to this point from pitlane, with the 23-year-old rookie crashing out in difficult circumstances in Melbourne and ending twelfth in China, benefitting from different automobiles having points in addition to a trio of disqualifications additional up the sphere.
Instantly after the race, Crimson Bull group principal Christian Horner was bombarded with questions over whether or not Tsunoda was being lined as much as exchange Lawson from his dwelling grand prix at Suzuka. On the time, Horner stated Crimson Bull would look into the information gathered from Lawson’s automobile and analyse his efficiency. Now the choice has been taken to herald Tsunoda.
Motorsport.com understands a key a part of the early name was to faucet into Tsunoda’s higher expertise to assist develop the RB21 alongside reigning world champion Max Verstappen and that it was a gaggle determination reasonably than being Horner’s particular person selection.
Yuki Tsunoda, taking the Crimson Bull Racing RB20 for laps throughout testing after the Abu Dhabi GP, 2024
Photograph by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Photos
“It has been troublesome to see Liam battle with the RB21 on the first two races and in consequence we’ve collectively taken the choice to make an early change,” Horner stated.
“We got here into the 2025 season, with two ambitions, to retain the world drivers’ championship and to reclaim the world constructors’ title and it is a purely sporting determination. We acknowledge there may be a variety of work to be accomplished with the RB21 and Yuki’s expertise will show extremely helpful in serving to to develop the present automobile. We welcome him to the group and are trying ahead to seeing him behind the wheel of the RB21.
“We’ve an obligation of care to guard and develop Liam and collectively, we see that after such a troublesome begin, it is sensible to behave rapidly so Liam can acquire expertise, as he continues his F1 profession with Visa Money App Racing Bulls, an surroundings and a group he is aware of very nicely.”
Whereas Tsunoda’s promotion had been extensively anticipated, it was unclear whether or not Lawson would return to Racing Bulls or be taken out of the firing line altogether.
Franco Colapinto, who raced for Williams for the second half of final season earlier than becoming a member of Alpine as a reserve driver for 2025, had been linked with the seat vacated by Tsunoda however in the end Lawson will get one other likelihood to indicate what he can do.
The highlight will likely be firmly on Tsunoda when he heads to Suzuka subsequent week and will likely be eager to enhance on his finest end in F1 to this point — fourth place in Abu Dhabi in his debut season of 2021.
Learn Additionally:
On this article
Mark Mann-Bryans
Formulation 1
Yuki Tsunoda
Liam Lawson
Crimson Bull Racing
Racing Bulls
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