Official: Red Bull announces Tsunoda will take Lawson's place.

      "It is prudent to act swiftly"

      Following a challenging start to the season for Liam Lawson, Oracle Red Bull Racing has decided that starting from the 2025 Japan GP, Yuki Tsunoda will drive for Oracle Red Bull Racing, while Liam will race for Visa Cash App Racing Bulls. Red Bull finds itself in the rare position of having four seats available on the Formula One grid, split between Oracle Red Bull Racing and Visa Cash App Racing Bulls. Consequently, the team has opted for a driver rotation, allowing Yuki to partner with the current four-time World Champion, Max Verstappen.

      Christian Horner, Team Principal and CEO, stated: "It has been tough to witness Liam's struggles with the RB21 in the initial two races, and as a result, we have collectively decided to make an early change. Our goals for the 2025 season are to retain the World Drivers’ Championship and reclaim the World Constructors’ title, making this a decision based purely on sporting considerations. We recognize there is much work to be done on the RB21, and Yuki’s experience will be invaluable in developing the current car. We are excited to welcome him to the team and are eager to see him drive the RB21. We have a responsibility to support and nurture Liam, and together we believe that after such a tough start, acting promptly makes sense for him to gain experience as he continues his F1 career with Visa Cash App Racing Bulls, an environment and team he knows well."

      Laurent Mekies, Team Principal of Visa Cash App Racing Bulls, expressed: “We are extremely proud of Yuki for earning his well-deserved opportunity at Oracle Red Bull Racing! His progress over the past year, especially at the start of 2025, has been truly remarkable. It has been an immense privilege for all of us in Faenza and Milton Keynes to witness his development. Yuki’s energy and positivity have uplifted every aspect of our factories and our garage, and he will always be a Racing Bull! We wish him all the success he deserves at ORBR. Everyone at VCARB is eager to work diligently with Liam to provide him with the best environment possible to showcase his talent in our car. He integrated seamlessly with us last year, and we are excited to take on challenges together and evolve as a team. With Isack already performing strongly with us, we are confident in our young and robust lineup.”