It happened. After weeks of speculation, Red Bull has officially swapped Liam Lawson for Yuki Tsunoda, placing the Japanese driver alongside Max Verstappen while Lawson moves back to Visa Cash App RB. It’s a seismic shift, and one that raises plenty of questions. Was this a panic move? A deserved promotion for Tsunoda? Or just another chapter in Red Bull’s long-running struggle to find a proper second driver?

The Story So Far: Lawson’s Struggles, Tsunoda’s Steady Hand

The first few races of 2025 weren’t kind to Lawson. The numbers told the story: zero points, two Q1 exits, and the largest intra-team gap in the field compared to Verstappen. His debut in Australia ended in a crash. In China, he finished well outside the points and was nearly a full second per lap slower than Max. His struggles in qualifying and race pace weren’t just bad by Red Bull’s standards; they were among the worst statistical starts for a Red Bull driver in years.

Meanwhile, Tsunoda was making the most of his Visa Cash App RB. He was consistently getting that car into Q2 and even Q3, something Lawson couldn’t manage in a much faster Red Bull. He finished just outside the points in Australia (after briefly running as high as P5) and then snagged a P6 finish in the China Sprint, putting the sister team on the board before the senior team’s second car even registered.

In short: Tsunoda was outperforming expectations. Lawson was underdelivering. Red Bull doesn’t tolerate underperformance for long. The swap was inevitable.

What Tsunoda Brings to Red Bull

Now that the seat is his, the big question is: Can Yuki Tsunoda succeed where so many others have failed? The second Red Bull seat has been a career killer for plenty of talented drivers—Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, and even Sergio Pérez had their fair share of struggles alongside Verstappen. Red Bull’s car philosophy doesn’t make life easy. It’s twitchy, aggressive, and built for a driver who extracts every last ounce from an oversteering machine.

The RB21, much like its predecessors, is incredibly sensitive. Think of it like playing an F1 game with the sensitivity settings maxed out—one tiny input too much, and the car snaps. Verstappen thrives in this environment. Most others do not. Lawson clearly didn’t. The real test for Tsunoda is whether his natural aggressive style—sharp on turn-in, fearless in battle—helps him unlock the car’s potential or makes him the next driver to flounder in the hot seat.

One advantage Tsunoda has is experience. Unlike Lawson, who was essentially a rookie thrown into a top team, Tsunoda has had three full seasons to learn and refine his approach. He’s no longer the erratic rookie from 2021, known for radio outbursts and rookie mistakes. He’s matured, polished his racecraft, and, crucially, learned how to handle the pressure of a Red Bull-affiliated seat.

A Necessary Change or Just Another Experiment?

Let’s be clear: This is a high-risk, high-reward decision for Red Bull. If Tsunoda delivers—if he can qualify well, consistently finish inside the points, and at least be close enough to Verstappen to help in strategy fights—this could be his long-term shot at staying in the top team. If he struggles, he might just be another name on the list of drivers chewed up and spit out by Red Bull’s ruthless system.

For Lawson, it’s a tough pill to swallow. He finally got his dream opportunity, only for it to be ripped away after just a handful of races. But the flip side is that this might actually save his career. Instead of being destroyed by a car that doesn’t suit him, he now has a chance to reset at Visa Cash App RB, prove himself again, and potentially earn another shot down the line.

As for Tsunoda, the message is clear: This is your moment. Don’t waste it. He’s wanted this seat for years. Now it’s his. Whether he sinks or swims, the next few races will define his F1 future.