Unexpected Driver Shakeup in Red Bull Camp

Liam Lawson has admitted his abrupt demotion from Red Bull Racing after just two Grand Prix appearances came as a complete surprise. The New Zealand driver, who replaced Sergio Perez for the 2025 season, now finds himself reassigned to sister team Racing Bulls ahead of this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix.

"It was definitely a shock, honestly," Lawson revealed to Sky Sports. "The discussions we were having didn't suggest this direction at all. This wasn't something I anticipated."

Performance Struggles Lead to Swift Decision

The 23-year-old's difficult start with Red Bull included:

• 18th place qualifying in Australia
• Race-ending crash in Melbourne
• Last-place sprint qualifying in China
• Modest 14th and 12th place finishes

Red Bull motorsport director Helmut Marko conceded: "We made a mistake signing Lawson," as team principal Christian Horner opted to reinstate Yuki Tsunoda for his home race in Suzuka.

Lawson's New Chapter with Racing Bulls

Despite the setback, Lawson remains professional:

"Obviously I would have loved more time to prove myself. We faced challenges in testing and Melbourne, then China was a sprint weekend. But these decisions aren't mine to make - I'll make the most of this opportunity."

The Kiwi driver will partner Isack Hadjar at Racing Bulls, with his first session in the new car scheduled for Friday practice (03:30 BST).

Technical Analysis: Why the Swap Happened

Our F1 experts note:

• Lawson struggled with car setup adaptation
• Tsunoda's experience with current RB20 package
• Pressure from Honda (engine suppliers) for Japanese representation
• Red Bull's championship ambitions allowing no patience

This marks the fastest driver demotion in Red Bull history since their 2005 entry into Formula 1.