Yuki Tsunoda to replace Liam Lawson at Japanese Grand Prix, Red Bull confirm

Red Bull are third in the constructors’ championship after two races, behind McLaren and Mercedes, and Verstappen has expressed his belief that their car may be only the fourth fastest in the field.

The Dutchman was a close second behind race-winner Lando Norris’ McLaren in the wet season-opening Australian Grand Prix, and fourth at the Chinese race last weekend.

Lawson qualified 18th in Melbourne and crashed out of the race. In China, he qualified last for both the sprint and the grand prix, and finished 14th and 12th.

His finishing position in the grand prix in Shanghai was boosted by the disqualifications of both Ferraris and Pierre Gasly’s Alpine, without which he would have been 15th.

Horner’s statement said: “We acknowledge there is a lot of work to be done with the RB21 and Yuki’s experience will prove highly beneficial in helping to develop the current car.”

The decision to swap Lawson and Tsunoda was made on Monday at a meeting of Red Bull bosses in Dubai, including Horner and the chief shareholder Chalerm Yoovidhya.

When Red Bull made the decision to pay off Perez two years before the end of his contract at the conclusion of last season, they chose Lawson because they believed Tsunoda lacked the mental fortitude to be Verstappen’s team-mate and that Lawson had more potential.

They picked Lawson despite the fact the 23-year-old New Zealander had completed just 11 grands prix over two seasons for Red Bull’s second team.

At the time, Red Bull’s car had fallen from competitiveness and, although Verstappen clinched a fourth consecutive world title, he won only twice in the final 14 races of the 2024 season.

The car appears not to have improved in relative competitiveness over the winter, and Verstappen is continuing to complain it has balance problems that affect its performance.