After Checo’s departure on December 18, it’s now official: Lawson Replaces Perez at Red Bull. The young New Zealander, currently racing for the Visa Cash App Red Bull team, will take over after the Mexican driver’s disappointing Formula 1 season.
At just 22, Lawson has proven his worth in junior categories and exceeded expectations when he debuted at the Dutch GP, stepping in for Daniel Ricciardo after a hand injury sidelined the Australian.
It’s been an incredible journey so far. I want to say a massive thank you to the whole team at VCARB (RB) for their support. The last six races have played a huge part in my preparation for this next step.
Red Bull’s decision to promote Lawson continues its tradition of investing in young drivers’ development through its Formula 1 teams. Both Vettel and Verstappen are proof of the Austrian team’s strong talent pipeline. Remarkably, Lawson finished 2nd in the Formula 1 Drivers’ Standings, despite only competing in six races with the team.
What About Yuki?
Following Checo’s departure, speculation swirled. For many, the most logical choice was promoting Yuki Tsunoda as Red Bull’s second driver. The Japanese racer has years of experience in the category, has learned from his teammates, and improved his once-criticized mindset.
However, Lawson’s recent Formula 1 results, combined with Tsunoda’s volatile personality, suggest the Japanese driver wasn’t the ideal fit for Red Bull’s main lineup.
Now, the big question is: Will this decision impact Red Bull’s partnership with its Japanese investors? Yuki has brought significant sponsorships to the Austrian organization, and naturally, those sponsors would prefer seeing one of their own in the seat of the team dominating Formula 1 over the past four years.
How will Yuki handle this setback? So far, no major F1 rumors have surfaced. Stay tuned to F1 Sprint News for updates on drivers, teams, and the latest F1 news.