Tsunoda set for rest of 2025

Yuki Tsunoda appears to have already received a lot more backing by Red Bull than Liam Lawson with the Japanese driver set to race for the rest of 2025.

After just two races Lawson was sensationally dropped from Red Bull in a straight swap with Tsuonda from Racing Bulls.

As a result, the Suzuka crowd will be cheering for one of their own driving at a top team at next weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix.

Despite initially being overlooked at the start of the year, Tsunoda appears destined to not only get a Red Bull debut, but keep the seat for the rest of 2025.

This type of backing was not enjoyed by rookie Lawson, who struggled to adapt to the RB21 on unfamiliar tracks at Albert Park and Shanghai.

With Tsunoda also showing strong speed in the Racing Bulls entry at the start of his fifth season for the junior team, Red Bull thought the time was right to make the quickest driver change in F1 history.

One of the main men calling the shots is Red Bull advisor Helmet Marko, who believes Tsunoda has already shown enough to prove he deserves an extended crack at the top team.

The timeframe for Red Bull drivers other than Max Verstappen never seems clear despite what the contract says, but Marko is already adamant the Japanese driver will get all 22 remaining races at the top team.

“Yes. Because we believe he can do the job,” Marko replied to BBC 5 Live when asked if Tsunoda can race the rest of 2025.

Despite Honda being Red Bull’s engine supplier for the final time this year and Suzuka fast approaching, Marko said the timing of the Japanese Grand Prix was not a factor in the decision making.

He also stated that the reason why Tsunoda has been promoted now and not before the start of the season was his progress was on full display in the first two races.

“Tsunoda made a big step,” he said.

“It’s strange after four years, now in his fifth year, he is a much stronger personality, he has more confidence and he did two very good races, it’s just his strategy didn’t work at Racing Bulls.

“In this case, a very difficult car experience is something that will help. That was our thoughts.”

Whilst it is a great chance for Tsuonda, it is a major kick in the guts for Lawson so early into his F1 career.

Still yet to complete a full F1 season, Lawson joins a long list of mid-season Red Bull driver demotions from Danill Kvyat, Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon.

But Marko believes the Kiwi’s career is far from over and he will have the tools to perform at the less Verstappen focused Racing Bulls operation.

“He’s not kicked out of F1 and Racing Bulls will give him the chance to recover and his career will start again,” Marko said.

He pointed to the experience of drivers Red Bull had previously dropped as evidence that Lawson could rebuild his career.

Marko said: “For the benefit for him, he goes back to Racing Bulls, which has a car capable to be top 10 in qualifying and the race.

“Just look in the past, it was Gasly, it happened the same, also to [Alex] Albon and they recovered and they are now competitive F1 drivers.

“On top of it, the RB21 is a car which is not the fastest car but nevertheless very difficult to drive and Max can handle but not at this stage Liam.”

Image: Red Bull Content Pool

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