One day after the Mexican driver’s farewell was made official Sergio Perezafter four seasons at Red Bullthe Anglo-Austrian team promoted to the first team Liam Lawson. Lawson thus succeeds the Thai Alexander Albonlast pilot ofacademy led by Helmut Marko to join the official team of Red Bull.
The hiring of driver coming from New Zealand was in the air since his F1 debut in Visa CashApp Racing Bulls. This eliminated Pérez’s chances of staying in Red Bull, despite the renewal last May, and also those of the Japanese Yuki Tsunodacurrently in the Faenza satellite team.
For the driver from the Land of the Rising Sun, the doors of Red Bull had probably already closed with the start of the internal engine construction project Red Bull Powertrains in collaboration with Fordin view of the new regulations for 2026. Tsunoda, barring unforeseen circumstances, will remain in the Faenza team for 2025 and then move on toAston Martinwhich from 2026 will be powered by Honda, its main sponsor.
Lawson will face the litmus test. No Red Bull driver had raced so little in F1 before the promotion: just 11 Grands Prix, beating Albon’s record for just one GP.
The reactions on social media regarding Tsunoda’s failure to promote are unanimous. Insiders, fans and F1 enthusiasts criticize the choice of Red Bull to rely on an inexperienced driver like Lawson compared to the Japanese, who boasts four full seasons in F1 and has systematically beaten his teammates from the second season onwards, including drivers considered potential crack come Nyck de Vries and an expert like Daniel Ricciardo.
Liam Lawson, like many rookies we will see at the start of next season, will face unprecedented pressure. He will have to deal with Max Verstappenfresh four-time world champion, known for not giving discounts to his teammates. Under the watchful eye of Helmut Markoburned by the failures of Gasly e Albonand with Tsunoda ready to “request” his place in case of disappointments, the challenge is enormous.
Only the track will be able to tell if Marko made the right choice or if Lawson’s detractors were right. For Liam, it’s the moment of truth: either he immediately proves he can compete with Verstappen and rival McLaren e Ferrarior risks falling into oblivion like others before him. We await the response from the track, the only supreme judge of F1. This is why certain preventive criticisms appear exaggerated.
Photo credits: Oracle Red Bull Racing, VCARB
