Yuki Tsunoda replaced Liam Lawson at Oracle Red Bull Racing for the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix, while Lawson returned to Visa Cash App Racing Bulls. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said the team acted after Lawson’s difficult opening races so he could continue developing in a familiar environment.
What changed for the Japanese Grand Prix
The switch applied to the senior Red Bull seat: Tsunoda moved up from Racing Bulls, and Lawson went back to the team he had raced for before joining Red Bull. Lawson remained in Formula 1; “Liam’s out” means out of the senior team, not out of the championship grid. The FIA Thursday press conference transcript reflects the week’s focus on the change, with a question about “what’s happened at Red Bull with Yuki and Liam.”
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Why Red Bull said it made the move
Horner described Lawson’s start to the season as difficult and said Red Bull chose to act quickly. He framed the decision as a duty to protect and develop Lawson, who could keep gaining experience with a team and environment he already knew. That is Horner’s public explanation; the available statements do not establish a more specific internal cause or show that Lawson chose the move. Formula 1 reported Horner’s explanation.
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“We have a duty of care to protect and develop Liam and together, we see that after such a difficult start, it makes sense to act quickly so Liam can gain experience, as he continues his F1 career with Visa Cash App Racing Bulls, an environment and a team he knows very well.”
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— Christian Horner, Red Bull team principal
Lawson said the opportunity had come earlier than he expected and that the decision was not his, adding that his focus was on making the most of the chance while remaining in Formula 1. Formula 1 reported his remarks.
How the drivers finished at Suzuka
The FIA entry list confirmed the new assignments for the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix. In the race, Tsunoda was classified 12th and Lawson 17th, according to the FIA’s official classification.
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| Driver | Japanese GP team | Race classification |
|---|---|---|
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| Liam Lawson | Visa Cash App Racing Bulls | 17th |
Those finishing positions describe one race weekend; by themselves, they do not establish whether the lineup change succeeded over the longer term. Lawson had not scored points in the first two rounds, according to contemporaneous Associated Press coverage, but that context does not prove any particular motive beyond the explanation Horner gave.
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