We can’t sit here and pretend there’s not a “he was robbed” vibe about the fact Yuki Tsunoda hasn’t got a drive with Red Bull, but for Liam Lawson it has very much all come up roses.
The 11 time Grand Prix driver has found himself in a position many can only dream of, a drive with a top team ahead of one the most exciting F1 seasons for a long time - even though we just closed the final chapter of another that contained seven different race winners, ten podiums sitters, 24 different drivers and a multitude of magical moments.
In amongst all that, a bright spark for the Red Bull family in the shape of New Zealander Liam Lawson; who made his F1 bow in a five race stint replacing injured Daniel Ricciardo in 2023, before returning for a further six races in 2024 as the Aussie’s replacement after Singapore signalled the end of Ricciardo’s F1 career.
📸 Lawson returned to F1 part way through the season.
Red Bull has opted to replace the departed Sergio Perez with the Kiwi driver over Yuki Tsunoda, who in 2025 will become the most experienced driver at RB/Alpha Tauri/Toro Rosso level of all time. So why choose Lawson over him?
📸 Why not Yuki?
In his 11 F1 outings the new Red Bull man has shown that he as good as - or better than - his Japanese counterpart; a level that has taken Tsunoda five seasons to hone since his promotion from Formula 2.
In my opinion, Lawson sealed the new deal with his performance in this season’s chaotic Sao Paulo Grand Prix where he kept his cool to finish in the points for ‘VCARB’ in amongst the madness in Brazil - including being spun round at one stage of the Grand Prix.
📸 Lawson goes wheel to wheel with Perez in Brazil.
Performances like that one are exactly what Red Bull are looking for - someone who keeps their cool when the going gets tough, perhaps a trait Yuki Tsunoda is less known for.
I expect a slow start to the season for Lawson - although he’s won on debut for five teams in five series’ - but when he’s up to speed he’ll be exactly the teammate Max Verstappen requires, rather than a man with an Isack Hadjar shaped target on his back if Helmut Marko deals another tough hand.
📸 Is Hadjar next in line or is Lawson safe?
Five teams in five series’ eh…? He couldn’t, could he? I’m excited to see what Lawson can do.
📸 Image credits: Formula Motorsport Limited, Visa Cashapp RB, Red Bull Content Pool
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