BREAKING NEWS: Yuki Tsunoda ‘Backed’ by Honda, Liam Lawson Cruelly Eliminated Before the Japan GP for 3 Brutal Reasons
In a shocking turn of events, Red Bull has decided to drop Liam Lawson right before the highly anticipated Japanese Grand Prix, replacing him with Yuki Tsunoda. While many expected Lawson to secure a long-term role within the Red Bull family, he was suddenly cast aside in favor of Tsunoda, raising questions about the true motivations behind this decision.
Reports suggest that Honda, Red Bull’s crucial engine partner, played a significant role in backing Tsunoda, ensuring that the young Japanese driver would have a spot in the upcoming race. However, beyond corporate politics, there were three extremely harsh reasons why Lawson was eliminated in such a brutal fashion.
1. Poor Start to the 2025 Season
While Liam Lawson showed promise as a Red Bull reserve driver and even impressed during his substitute performances in 2023, his start to the 2025 season was far from ideal. In the first two races of the year, Lawson struggled to deliver results, failing to score points in both Australia and China. His inability to match the pace of his competitors, combined with critical errors on track, gave Red Bull a reason to question his long-term potential.
In Formula 1, teams have little patience for underperformance, and Red Bull, known for its ruthless decision-making, wasted no time in making a change.
2. Yuki Tsunoda’s Rise & Honda’s Influence
While Lawson’s struggles played a part, the biggest factor in his removal was the rise of Yuki Tsunoda. The Japanese driver has shown significant improvement in recent seasons, proving himself as a capable and aggressive competitor. More importantly, Tsunoda has strong backing from Honda, which is deeply invested in ensuring his success, especially with the Japanese Grand Prix approaching.
Honda has been a vital partner for Red Bull, supplying them with high-performance power units. With Red Bull looking to maintain a good relationship with Honda ahead of future negotiations, choosing Tsunoda over Lawson was a political move as much as it was a sporting one. The fact that this decision
was made just before a race in Japan only adds to the controversy.
3. Red Bull’s Cutthroat Culture
Red Bull has never been a team that hesitates to make brutal decisions. From dropping Daniil Kvyat for Max Verstappen in 2016 to cutting ties with Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon when they failed to meet expectations, the team has built a reputation for its cutthroat approach to driver management.
Lawson, despite his talent, became the latest victim of Red Bull’s unforgiving system. In a sport where performance is everything, even one poor stretch of races can cost a driver his seat—something Lawson learned the hard way.
What’s Next for Lawson?
With his Red Bull opportunity slipping away, Liam Lawson now faces an uncertain future. While he could still find a place in another team, his brutal removal before the Japan GP serves as a harsh reminder of how cruel Formula 1 can be. Meanwhile, Tsunoda has a golden chance to prove himself once again—one that Honda has ensured he won’t waste.
