Lawson out, Tsunoda in: Why Red Bull are preparing an early driver change (ad-free)
Added 2025-03-26 13:43:51 +0000 UTCWe discuss Red Bull’s imminent replacement of Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda in the latest edition of The Race F1 Podcast.
Jon Noble joins Edd Straw to discuss the move and explain what it says about Red Bull’s driver strategy.
We discuss why Lawson couldn’t extract the pace from the Red Bull RB21 that Max Verstappen can and what it was about his progress that persuaded the team to abandon him so quickly.
And with Tsunoda now having the chance of a lifetime, we ask if he’s got what it takes to make a success of his opportunity.
Comments
I bet that RB drama is what Toto was waiting for and as an option was one of the reasons George doesn't have a contract. Wondering if RB being reluctant to switch on rapid car development because it would require significant change and resources, hampering or putting at risk their 2026 project. Neither option making Verstappen happy. If I could choose Ver vs Rus, its less than a second. Ver would have 1-2 dynamic as I doubt if Antonella would be a threat in 2026. All fits.
Fido Letto
2025-03-27 06:44:54 +0000 UTCHappy to subscribed here on Patreon. Have been following Edd Straw for years. A Legendary Journalist. The Race is the best.
Roberto Nogueira
2025-03-27 01:26:06 +0000 UTCHoping the end justifies the means. Yuki deserved a shot .. although Sainz was the right choice!
Stephen
2025-03-27 00:02:07 +0000 UTCTotally agree. He's slotted in fantastically and brings a lot.
Keir Thomas
2025-03-26 23:34:22 +0000 UTCEdd has enough incredulity for us all!
Keir Thomas
2025-03-26 23:33:59 +0000 UTCGreat work as always guys - so glad I’ve subscribed, Jon is a brilliant addition to the team
James Cruden
2025-03-26 22:06:46 +0000 UTCLove the ‘I may regret this one’ quip there, Vin… too funny. And great point about the immature vs mental robustness on those behaviours of the drivers.
Lane
2025-03-26 21:03:28 +0000 UTCJon's point re: Red Bull being wrong irrespective of how this plays out is spot on. Which also plays into my thought that if they didn't make this change, they could still end up being proven right in both originally choosing Lawson over Tsunoda and then giving him a chance to improve. Even if they waited another race or two it makes the decision look less bad from a PR point of view. But hey, Red Bull gonna Red Bull!
Darryl Finch
2025-03-26 19:33:57 +0000 UTCI feel so bad for Lawson. It's not his fault that he's been promoted to the senior team after 11 races and then was expected to be on the level of Verstappen. I doubt that a rookie Verstappen with only 11 races would even be able to keep up with today's Verstappen
Jason Rhode
2025-03-26 18:16:07 +0000 UTCDarth Helmut back at it again 🙄. I'm kinda getting tired of Red Bull not being able to commit to anyone besides Verstappen.
Jason Rhode
2025-03-26 18:12:24 +0000 UTCI feel like they should have given tsunoda a shot in the first place but to not even give Lawson a shot at a track he at least knows is surprising
Evan Patipa
2025-03-26 18:05:07 +0000 UTCThe better RB/RBR swap for Yuki would actually be Hannah Schmitz to RBR 😉 Joking aside, I'm excited and happy for Yuki. I think he was the right off season choice and now gets his chance. I get this is extreme pressure, but a few things in his favor: 1. The bar is low, he has to outperform Liams first two results instead of Checos past season as he would have if he got it over the winter. 2. He has Honda in his corner vs Liam who had Helmut. We know which of those is the more stable backer 3. After this ridiculousness, Yuki will get the full season because RB surely can't make yet another swap? I may regret this one.. All in all, it really bothered me that Yuki yelling on he radio was called "immature" but Liam doing it last season with Checo/Alonso was called "mental toughness". I think it just highlights that RB only judges "toughness" by how long you've survived Marko yelling at you in their junior program - which shows just how archaic their process is. Marko needs to go.
Vin Narayan
2025-03-26 17:25:33 +0000 UTCWhat happens if Yuki struggles? Presumably Hadjar would too, as would Colapinto. I can't see another driver in their junior pool stepping up either. Bringing back a Perez or Ricciardo surely looks bad for Horner/Marko. Plus will they do a satisfactory job? Is there another driver out there who can be brought in who'll do a minimum decent job they expect? Surely being patient with someone and giving them actual time has to be the only option. They can take time to find a setup with the handling that'll suit the 2nd driver. It sounds like the way they shotgun new aerodynamic parts and setups is just amplifying the problem. Get to the summer break then they lineup someone for 2026. A red bull junior or an outside experienced driver. The rule reset will no doubt change how the car behaves.
Michael Horner
2025-03-26 17:11:12 +0000 UTCSo happy that I subbed to the Patreon. You guys are incredible.
Cam Smith
2025-03-26 16:39:24 +0000 UTCThe worst part of this is seeing all the newer, less educated fans slating Lawson on social media. Lawson is further off the pace than he was at RB so it clearly isn’t all on him. This is yet another terrible Horner/Marko driver decision and it’s sad to see Lawson being blamed for it by the fans
Michael Sanderson
2025-03-26 16:25:47 +0000 UTCIs that an Ali Dia reference we get from Jon 3 minutes in?
Rory McCall
2025-03-26 16:24:18 +0000 UTCI can't believe I'm saying this, but I kind of agree with what Jos V has been saying. Horner should probably be booted and new management should be moved in for the new era. Helmet should be removed from driver decisions. Maybe this way of working was effective if the past era when the cars were more simple, but people struggle to hook these ground effect cars up and just tossing a driver is not a solution.
Ethan Fish
2025-03-26 15:54:32 +0000 UTCI think Red Bull should replace Christian and Helmut and be done with it
stayfiercecharlesleclerc!
2025-03-26 15:45:52 +0000 UTCwhat happens when/if Yuki struggles just as badly- and shows that its mostly a car issue that only max can drive around bc hes so great but also has learnt with the car as it becomes more and more undriveable
anya b
2025-03-26 15:44:59 +0000 UTCI wonder if Yuki actually tested slightly better but Red Bull passed him over because they didn't like his attitude and now they see it as worth the headaches in the garage.
Nathaniel Malmborg
2025-03-26 15:17:01 +0000 UTCSo what's their plan for if(when) Yuki can't qualify this car in the top 10/15 either? Apologise to Yuki, Liam and Checo and finally admit they've built a car that can only be effectively driven by Max and even he can't get it to the front anymore.
Will Palmer
2025-03-26 14:44:45 +0000 UTCIf they chew up Yuki Christian Horner needs to be replaced!
Susanne
2025-03-26 14:28:59 +0000 UTCFor sure the pressure in Japan is going to be insane, but at the same time I think the Japanese fans are understanding of the situation and will be extremely supportive if it goes wrong. Well to be fair, I think everyone would be pretty sympathetic in that case.
Zach Buchowski
2025-03-26 14:28:32 +0000 UTCLove that you guys are keeping us up to date with all of this!
Sasha
2025-03-26 14:05:06 +0000 UTC
