Liam Lawson is struggling to meet Red Bull Racing’s high expectations. While Max Verstappen sits just 8 points behind championship leader Lando Norris, Lawson hasn’t scored a single point or even made it past Q1 in qualifying.
The rumors are swirling. Could former teammate Yuki Tsunoda replace him?
Lawson doesn’t think so.
“It’s safe to say we’re not happy. None of us are happy,” Lawson admitted about his performance at the Chinese Grand Prix.
During that same race weekend in Shanghai, Tsunoda was asked if he’d be ready to take Lawson’s seat for the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix.
“100%. The [Red Bull] car is faster,” Tsunoda responded confidently.
Lawson wasn’t having any of it.
“He can honestly say whatever he wants,” Lawson fired back. “I raced him for years. I raced him in junior categories, and I beat him and I did in F1 as well, so he can say whatever he wants.”
The rivalry between these two drivers goes back to 2019. They’ve faced off in multiple racing series including Toyota Racing Series, F3, and the prestigious Macau Grand Prix.
Lawson often came out on top in those early battles.
When they finally met in Formula One in 2023, Lawson quickly adapted to the pinnacle of motorsport. He outperformed Tsunoda in four of their five races together.
Things changed in 2024. After being signed as Daniel Ricciardo‘s permanent replacement ahead of the US Grand Prix in Austin, Lawson found himself up against an improved Tsunoda. The Japanese driver beat him in 4 out of their 6 races together.
Despite this, it was Lawson who earned the promotion to Red Bull Racing, stepping in for the struggling Sergio Perez.
The RB21 is widely considered one of the trickiest cars to drive in the current era. Should Red Bull give Lawson more time to adjust to its quirks? Or is it time to see what Tsunoda can do with the same machinery?
What do you think?
