Red Bull F1

Really? How about 2008? STR out scored RB. As for Racing Bull better than RB. Look at Yuki qualifying times compared to Vettel. He has been only a 1/10 off. Verstappen can win with the Racing Bull car right now

 

Thanks for pointing that out. I overlooked 2008. That's an oddity as StR was using Ferrari engines. But yeah I see no evidence the racing bulls are better than the RB. If Racing bulls eclispe RB in constructors, I'll see it differently.

 

More opinion on the potential Lawson change.

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/should-red-bull-drop-lawson-now-our-verdict/

It seems more and more likely that the first Formula 1 driver change of 2025 might be coming just two rounds into the season. But did anyone expect that change to be coming at Red Bull?

Liam Lawson's catastrophic start to life in the Red Bull senior team had put his position in jeopardy even before an insipid drive to 15th on the road (and 12th in the final classification) in the Chinese Grand Prix - which only seems to have accelerated the process, to the point where it might already be too late for him to save himself.

What should Red Bull do? That's the question we asked our team.

Go back in time or suck it up
Scott Mitchell-Malm
Yes, this is at the absolute worst end of anyone's expectations. Worse, even. It has been dreadful so far. But the core details are utterly predictable: the car's too difficult to drive, Max Verstappen's on another level, and the driver chosen to replace Sergio Perez is decent but not special.

Red Bull knew all of this months ago. It's why Yuki Tsunoda was the more logical choice. There were doubts, sure, but at least with Tsunoda you minimised the variables. He was experienced, confident, and with a real turn of pace at his best.

Lawson always felt like a gamble. Unless the months Red Bull should have spent on the RB21 were spent building a time machine, Red Bull can't correct this mistake. It has to stand by it and hope it works.

Even considering a change after two races is embarrassing - imagine how bad it'll look if Red Bull actually went through with one.

Even if this form continued, the scrutiny shouldn't just be on the driver. It should be on the people who put him there. You don't get to pick Liam Lawson and then be shocked he isn't Max Verstappen.

 

The Ferrari engine in the 2008 was a 2007 spec engine. They beat Red Bull with an OLD engine.

 

Don't scapegoat Lawson too
Ben Anderson

--It's really not acceptable for Red Bull to continue to hide behind Verstappen's freakish abilities and make yet another scapegoat of its second driver.

Perez was an experienced driver and a race winner, and you decided he wasn't good enough to be in that seat. You've replaced him with a guy who's only done a handful of races, but in that time impressed you more than Daniel Ricciardo Mk2 did, or Tsunoda - who's been racing for your second team for four seasons.

You can't say you believe in someone and then hang them out to dry after just two grands prix - on circuits they've never driven before (or not for seven years). That is basically a dereliction of duty to your driver.

Even if you think that driver is ultimately limited in his ability or potential, and certainly not at Verstappen's level (who is?), how can you think what you've seen so far is a fair reflection on Lawson?

We might need to reappraise Perez in this light - but at least the sample set of races on which Red Bull based that final decision was definitive. Whether you agree or not, we'd seen enough.

When is Red Bull going to face reality and own the fact its F1 cars are just not very good now - and so difficult to drive that only one of the very best drivers ever to do it can just about conjure a tune from them?

The first-order problem here is with Red Bull and its car development. The fact Verstappen suspects the junior team's 2025 car might be better than his own tells you everything.

Switching the second driver again after just a couple of difficult races isn’t going to solve that Adrian Newey-shaped problem.--

 

to really get more data RB should swap Max and Yuki for one race. Max can indeed confirm the RB is a turd and Yuki can be compared to Lawson. Lawson and Yuki where pretty equal last year.

This swap would not only generate very useful data but would also generate the biggest of headlines. And that's in the end why RB is in F1 in the first place.
If was Horner, i would do it.

 

It's only entertainment not sport so I agree

 

Looks like the swap is ON. Yuki to take Lawsons seat in Japan.

 

Red Bull have finalised a deal to swap Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, multiple reports have claimed.

 

Schumacher went on to say that he thinks it i “pure chaos” at Red Bull and told Tsunoda’s manager to advise his driver to avoid it at all costs.

“And Lawson then goes back to the Racing Bulls, he should build up there again. It’s kind of pure chaos at Red Bull. So not only that the main team is too slow, but that they also swap the riders like a charade. I think that’s unbelievable.

“If I was Tsunoda’s manager, I wouldn’t recommend him to go there. At the moment, Racing Bulls is the better car and Tsunoda is getting on really well with it. He can’t do himself any favours with it.”

 

I just hope Tsunoda is at least 3/10's off of Max in qualifying and race.

I know I 'm expecting alot.

 

Bring back Perez!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

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Let the memes begin

 

Max has expressed his opinion after the Chinese GP as well, saying that moving Lawson out of the team absolutely does not address the underlying problem right now and that's of course that the car is bad. Lawson is the scape goat.

Not the first time he's said it, either.

I think we can now do away with the myths that the Verstappens hold all the power at that team .

 

And just like that. Shoot I thought Lawson wouldn’t get at least one more race

 

Calling it now. Max to Merc 2026

 

I think it's pretty much an open secret at this point. Those Ford RBs are going to drive like trucks.

 

Yep

 

I still think there is a fair chance Max goes sports car racing in 2026, unless they change the formula to something more appealing. A come back would be likely if they return to V10s.

As for Lawson/Yuki. Career suicide for Yuki but what does he have to lose? He's likely gone when Honda leaves. He deserved the second seat. But reality is, the RB is likely a much better car for the average driver right now. Aside from Max, there might just be a couple of other drivers that can tame that car.

 

[FormulaPassion.it]

De Limburger reports that: "Honda pays 10 million euros a year for Tsunoda’s seat at Racing Bulls and was willing to pay 20 million if the Japanese driver had been his teammate in 2025. At the time, Horner ignored the offer, but now the agreement is being finalized."

De Limburger continued: "Red Bull’s top brass contacted Honda in recent days, openly asking how much they would be willing to pay to see Tsunoda alongside Verstappen for the rest of the championship."

"And according to reports, Honda would be willing to pay several million to make it happen."

https://www.formulapassion.it/f1/f1-news/dallolanda-red-bull-vertice-a-dubai-e-decisione-presa-tsunoda-subito-al-posto-di-lawson-paga-honda

 

Best of luck to Yuki! Red Bull is a heck of a tough place to work for. I’m curious to see if his more recent, mature attitude will falter at the pressure cooker that is Red Bull…

 

LOL

 

Was Yuki slower in the RedBull car test vs Lawson last year???? More RedBull management failure in action, No summer RedBull car testing for Lawson as Mercedes did with Antonelli. Horner has a job why?? Bas graphic above says it all.

Yuki just say no! Good advice in a response on Autosport!

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/lawsons-red-bull-time-nearing-an-end-as-team-eyes-tsunoda-swap-for-japan/10707121/

--Red Bull boss Christian Horner, who has vowed to stand by Lawson, also admitted the Kiwi would find it “easier” to get up to speed with Red Bull’s sister team, Racing Bulls.

By swapping with the more-experienced Tsunoda, Lawson, who has only competed in 13 races, would be afforded time to get up to speed with F1.

It also means that Tsunoda, who is now in his fifth season in F1, would be offered his chance to impress in a leading team after biding his time with Red Bull’s sister outfit.

The move will raise eyebrows after Red Bull replaced Sergio Perez at the end of last season, despite the Mexican still having a contract with Red Bull for this season.

Perez’s contract was cancelled in favour of promoting Lawson however, his below-par performances - combined with a solid showing from Tsunoda - has been difficult to ignore.

Confirmation is now expected to come until the end of the week.--

 

If I was Honda, I´d ask Horner to get paid for Tsunoda. "Dude, we make you an offer last year, now we´re not going to pay to fix your mess".

 

Yep Horner and RedBull - glaring example of how to ruin talent and not manage young drivers. 8.5million Pound Sterling per year for Horner. I would hope they pay Dr Mouthy Marko far less lol.