Red Bull is preparing to make a driver change after just two races of the new Formula 1 season, with Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson swapping seats, RACER understands.
Lawson’s seat with Red Bull was called into question during the Chinese Grand Prix weekend after he qualified last for both the Sprint and the main race itself, and failed to make significant progress in either event. As reported on Monday, Red Bull then discussed addressing the issue at the earliest possible opportunity and has opted to make an immediate change.
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While official confirmation has yet to be provided from the team, RACER understands Tsunoda was in the Red Bull simulator on Tuesday and that the team plans to promote him to partner Max Verstappen ahead of his home race at Suzuka next weekend. While feeling it needs to make a change quickly, Red Bull is expected keep Lawson on the grid with a return to Racing Bulls, the team the New Zealander drove for at the end of last season.
Tsunoda has made a strong case for a promotion with his performances in the opening races. Sam Bagnall/Getty Images
Speculation that Franco Colapinto could be in the mix for a Racing Bulls seat amid the movement is understood to be wide of the mark. However, the Argentine — who is currently on loan to Alpine from Williams — is believed to be on the radar should further options need to be explored later in the year.
Tsunoda’s expected promotion comes after he reached Q3 in all three qualifying sessions so far this season, securing fifth on the grid in Australia and then finishing sixth in the Sprint in China. The 24-year-old has just entered his fifth season in Formula 1 with Red Bull’s junior team, having made 89 starts and taken a best finish of fourth in Abu Dhabi in his rookie season.
The decision to swap drivers after just two races is the earliest Red Bull has ever made such a move. It previously waited four races into the 2014 season before it replaced Daniil Kvyat with Verstappen, and Verstappen went on to win in his debut for Red Bull at the Spanish Grand Prix.
