Latest news with #YukiTsunoda
Daily Telegraph
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Telegraph
F1 Liam Lawson tries to set the record straight after brutal Red Bull demotion, Yuki Tsunoda, Max Verstappen
Don't miss out on the headlines from F1. Followed categories will be added to My News. Liam Lawson says he wasn't given time to prove himself at Red Bull Racing before his brutal sacking just two rounds into the season. Lawson was drafted up from Racing Bulls to replace the out-of-favour Sergio Pérez this season, but dire results at the opening Australian and Chinese grands prix convinced Red Bull Racing management to make an emergency change, sending him back to Faenza in exchange for Yuki Tsunoda. Fox Sports, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every practice, qualifying session and race in the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship™ LIVE in 4K. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. It was a ruthlessly early move on the Kiwi, who had started just 13 races when he was dropped ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix. Speaking to the F1 website at the halfway mark of the season, Lawson argued that while he accepted his results were poor, he was never given a chance to prove his underperformance was down to insufficient preparation rather than skill. Liam Lawson has spoken out about his demotion. (Photo by) 'I was well aware that those results weren't good enough, but I was just focused on improving, fixing and learning, basically,' he said. 'I was in the same mindset as I have been since I came into F1. 'I think that was the biggest thing going into a team like that, in a car like that it was going to take a bit of time to adjust and learn. 'With no proper testing, the issues in testing, the issues in Melbourne through practice, it wasn't smooth and clean. 'I needed time, and I wasn't given it.' Tsunoda's struggles in his seat have cast Lawson's difficulties in a new light. While the Kiwi's results were considerably poorer, the well-regarded Japanese driver has yet to make a breakthrough with the difficult RB21. Yuki Tsunoda has had his own issues in the top team. (Photo by) On average his results have been similar to those that had Pérez sent packing with two years to run on his contract at the end of last year. But the fact Tsunoda has been unable to perform — despite having been in sizzling form at Racing Bulls in 2024 and the first two rounds of 2025 — has finally forced the team to reckon with a more deeply seated problem than just its second driver. For years the design department has developed an increasingly niche car. Max Verstappen, his abilities preternatural, has been able to master it, but the mere mortal drivers partnered with him have endured greater and greater difficulties behind the wheel. This year even Verstappen has been unable to deliver consistent performances in the car, completing the team's rapid descent from dominant title winner in 2023 to also-ran just two years later. Tsunoda will be given at least until the end of the season, after which the prevalent assumption is he'll be moved on, though a fresh tack under new principal Laurent Mekies could yet change the game. A series of drivers have struggled to partner Max Verstappen. (Photo by) The subsequent events reframed Lawson's struggles — and not just his; Pérez, Alex Albon and Pierre Gasly could all claim some credit back here — in less harsh terms. It's cold comfort for the Kiwi, however, whose career flipped from dazzlingly ascendant to alarmingly precarious less than a fortnight into the season. With Red Bull's next young gun, Arvid Lindblad, in line for promotion to Formula 1 next season, what should have been a dream season could yet turn into a nightmare. Despite Christian Horner, the then Red Bull Racing principal, having claimed Lawson's demotion was an exercise in its 'duty of care to protect and develop Liam', his results remained stubbornly unimpressive upon his return to Racing Bulls. There are several elements that have gone into making him look more ordinary than expected. Former boss Christian Horner (right) and the team fell on much harder times in recent years. (Photo by) One is the acclimatisation process. Being thrown from one car to another in the middle of the season is always difficult, and after having struggled with an interrupted pre-season program at Red Bull Racing, having no pre-season at all with Racing Bulls made that challenge steeper. The other is that his teammate, Isack Hadjar, is arguably the standout rookie of the season. The Frenchman has been especially impressive in qualifying, and given the tightness of the midfield, that's made his Sunday results more impressive too. It's been easy to conclude a third reason — that Lawson, after being chewed up and spat out by one of F1's grandees in just two grands prix – had his confidence shattered. Pérez, after all, looked like a broken man in his final months at Red Bull Racing. Lawson, however, denies that psychology has played a role. 'I haven't really talked much about it because I think for a big part of this year I've just ignored everything that happened and I've just focused on trying to drive the car, but I know there was a lot of stuff that went out that was speculation about how I was feeling,' he said. 'My confidence hasn't changed since the start of the year to now. 'One thing to be clear about is that between the first couple of races, to the team switch, then going to Japan, mentally for me nothing changed. 'It's been very heavily speculated that my confidence took a hit and stuff like this, which is completely false. From the start of the year I felt the same as I always have. 'I think in two races, on tracks I'd never been to, it's not really enough for my confidence [to suffer]. 'Maybe six months into a season if I'm still at that level, if the results are still like that, then I'd be feeling something, maybe my confidence would be taking a hit.' Lawson may not have got the time he deserved at Red Bull Racing to make an impression, but he has 12 more grands prix to state his case in a car capable of occasional big results. The pressure's on, but it's up to him to prove he's equal to the challenge. Originally published as Liam Lawson tries to set the record straight after brutal Red Bull demotion
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Automotive
- News.com.au
Liam Lawson tries to set the record straight after brutal Red Bull demotion
Liam Lawson says he wasn't given time to prove himself at Red Bull Racing before his brutal sacking just two rounds into the season. Lawson was drafted up from Racing Bulls to replace the out-of-favour Sergio Pérez this season, but dire results at the opening Australian and Chinese grands prix convinced Red Bull Racing management to make an emergency change, sending him back to Faenza in exchange for Yuki Tsunoda. Fox Sports, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every practice, qualifying session and race in the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship™ LIVE in 4K. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. It was a ruthlessly early move on the Kiwi, who had started just 13 races when he was dropped ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix. Speaking to the F1 website at the halfway mark of the season, Lawson argued that while he accepted his results were poor, he was never given a chance to prove his underperformance was down to insufficient preparation rather than skill. 'I was well aware that those results weren't good enough, but I was just focused on improving, fixing and learning, basically,' he said. 'I was in the same mindset as I have been since I came into F1. 'I think that was the biggest thing going into a team like that, in a car like that it was going to take a bit of time to adjust and learn. 'With no proper testing, the issues in testing, the issues in Melbourne through practice, it wasn't smooth and clean. 'I needed time, and I wasn't given it.' Tsunoda's struggles in his seat have cast Lawson's difficulties in a new light. While the Kiwi's results were considerably poorer, the well-regarded Japanese driver has yet to make a breakthrough with the difficult RB21. On average his results have been similar to those that had Pérez sent packing with two years to run on his contract at the end of last year. But the fact Tsunoda has been unable to perform — despite having been in sizzling form at Racing Bulls in 2024 and the first two rounds of 2025 — has finally forced the team to reckon with a more deeply seated problem than just its second driver. For years the design department has developed an increasingly niche car. Max Verstappen, his abilities preternatural, has been able to master it, but the mere mortal drivers partnered with him have endured greater and greater difficulties behind the wheel. This year even Verstappen has been unable to deliver consistent performances in the car, completing the team's rapid descent from dominant title winner in 2023 to also-ran just two years later. Tsunoda will be given at least until the end of the season, after which the prevalent assumption is he'll be moved on, though a fresh tack under new principal Laurent Mekies could yet change the game. The subsequent events reframed Lawson's struggles — and not just his; Pérez, Alex Albon and Pierre Gasly could all claim some credit back here — in less harsh terms. It's cold comfort for the Kiwi, however, whose career flipped from dazzlingly ascendant to alarmingly precarious less than a fortnight into the season. With Red Bull's next young gun, Arvid Lindblad, in line for promotion to Formula 1 next season, what should have been a dream season could yet turn into a nightmare. Despite Christian Horner, the then Red Bull Racing principal, having claimed Lawson's demotion was an exercise in its 'duty of care to protect and develop Liam', his results remained stubbornly unimpressive upon his return to Racing Bulls. There are several elements that have gone into making him look more ordinary than expected. One is the acclimatisation process. Being thrown from one car to another in the middle of the season is always difficult, and after having struggled with an interrupted pre-season program at Red Bull Racing, having no pre-season at all with Racing Bulls made that challenge steeper. The other is that his teammate, Isack Hadjar, is arguably the standout rookie of the season. The Frenchman has been especially impressive in qualifying, and given the tightness of the midfield, that's made his Sunday results more impressive too. It's been easy to conclude a third reason — that Lawson, after being chewed up and spat out by one of F1's grandees in just two grands prix – had his confidence shattered. Pérez, after all, looked like a broken man in his final months at Red Bull Racing. Lawson, however, denies that psychology has played a role. 'I haven't really talked much about it because I think for a big part of this year I've just ignored everything that happened and I've just focused on trying to drive the car, but I know there was a lot of stuff that went out that was speculation about how I was feeling,' he said. 'My confidence hasn't changed since the start of the year to now. 'One thing to be clear about is that between the first couple of races, to the team switch, then going to Japan, mentally for me nothing changed. 'It's been very heavily speculated that my confidence took a hit and stuff like this, which is completely false. From the start of the year I felt the same as I always have. 'I think in two races, on tracks I'd never been to, it's not really enough for my confidence [to suffer]. 'Maybe six months into a season if I'm still at that level, if the results are still like that, then I'd be feeling something, maybe my confidence would be taking a hit.' Lawson may not have got the time he deserved at Red Bull Racing to make an impression, but he has 12 more grands prix to state his case in a car capable of occasional big results. The pressure's on, but it's up to him to prove he's equal to the challenge.
RNZ News
3 days ago
- Automotive
- RNZ News
F1: Liam Lawson's confidence just fine
New Zealand F1 driver Liam Lawson. Photo: ANTONIN VINCENT / PHOTOSPORT New Zealand driver Liam Lawson said his confidence has never taken a hit. Lawson is preparing for the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps this weekend with the pressure remaining well and truly on his shoulders. He is 16th in the Drivers' Championship standings having scored points just twice in 12 races so far this season, while his Racing Bulls team is seventh out of 10 in the Constructors' Championship. The 23-year-old started the season alongside world champion Max Verstappen at Red Bull, but was demoted after just two GP's, replaced by Yuki Tsunoda. With a three week break, Lawson has had time to reflect on the first half of the season and spoke to "Obviously, the start of the year, [we had] the big shake-up with the team switch, and then not really having the time to get to grips with things, racing every weekend, and trying to be at the level that I need to be at. It's been a lot," Lawson said. He admits he hasn't really had a chance to process what has gone on so far, but hopes to do that when the calendar takes a four week break in August. "We all know we have a couple more races coming up before then. You're still in that mindset, you're still thinking about what just happened, how we're going to improve in the next couple of races, and how I'm going to improve myself. You're just in it." New Zealand F1 driver Liam Lawson of Racing Bulls, Austria 2025. Photo: ALBERTO VIMERCATI / PHOTOSPORT It has been a tough year for the young Kiwi with the difficulties of performing in the Red Bull car (which Yuki Tsunoda has struggled with also), adjusting to the new team and taking on new tracks. "It's been very heavily speculated that my confidence took a hit and stuff like this, which is completely false. From the start of the year, I felt the same as I always have." In his first two races for Racing Bulls, Lawson finished 17th in Japan and 16th in Bahrain, he also had DNF's (Did Not Finish) in Miami, Canada and Great Britain. Limited testing time has also been an issue for Lawson for has had to familiarise himself with the car in race mode each week. "I've just ignored everything that happened, and I've just focused on trying to drive the car - but I know there was a lot of stuff that went out that was speculation about how I was feeling. "My confidence hasn't changed since the start of the year to now," Lawson told Remaining F1 Grands Prix: July 27, Belgium August 3, Hungary August 31, Dutch September 7, Italy (Monza) September 21, Azerbaijan October 5, Singapore October 19, US (Texas) October 26, Mexico November 9, Brazil November 22, Las Vegas November 30, Qatar December 7, Abu Dhabi Racing Bulls F1 lineup (L to R) Iasck Hadjar, Liam Lawson and Laurent Mekies. Photo: ANTONIN VINCENT / AFP
The Sun
6 days ago
- Automotive
- The Sun
Red Bull ‘to TERMINATE Tsunoda's contract and considering Brit sensation, 17, to be Verstappen's next team-mate'
YUKI TSUNODA is reportedly heading for Red Bull's ever revolving exit door with Max Verstappen set to get a new team-mate for the 2026 season. But four-time world champion Verstappen could leave himself, with Red Bull desperate for their prized asset to turn down growing interest from Mercedes. 5 5 Tsunoda is set to be a victim of a full circle moment after he brutally replaced Liam Lawson to partner Verstappen just two races into the current season in March. The rumour mill said it was former team principal Christian Horner, who was sacked after 20 years this month, who wanted Lawson out so quickly in March. But it seems Red Bull will keep to the same replacement scheme without Horner at the helm, with Tsunoda, 25, next in line for the chop. Ever since Daniel Ricciardo left Red Bull at the end of 2018, drivers have rarely lasted more than a season with the team, with the team's upgrade and championship focus always on Verstappen. Tsunoda's has endured a miserable season, scoring scrappy points on just three Grand Prix weekends, contributing just seven of the teams 172 total at the halfway point in the campaign. According to a GPblog report, the decision has already been made to terminate Tsunoda's contract at the end of the season, although he will remain in place until then. The Japanese star sits 17th in the drivers standings, is the lowest ranked non-rookie and has gone five rounds without scoring a single point. Tsunoda's qualifying results have disappointed in particular, after he escaped a near-death crash in Q1 at Imola, before managing P12 in Monaco, P20 in Spain, P11 in Canada, P18 in Austria and P12 at Silverstone. In contrast, Verstappen, 27, secured his fourth pole of the season at Silverstone, but finished fifth behind Lewis Hamilton after skidding off the track in the rain. With advisor Helmut Marko back in charge of driver line-ups after Horner's shock dismissal, Red Bull are likely to look inward to their Racing Bulls junior team for their next F1 star. Glamorous TikToker Bianca Bustamante gives behind-the-scenes look at a Formula E race week One option is going back to Lawson, who has picked himself back up after being removed from his Red Bull seat, sitting above Tsunoda in the drivers standings. But Marko, 82, is reportedly pushing for a new face and wants to promote 20-year-old rookie Isack Hadjar from Racing Bulls next season. Hadjar entered this season as something of a wildcard after his seat came about after the late decision to sack Sergio Perez caused an opening at Racing Bulls. But the decision to call him up now looks like a masterstroke, as the French-Algerian youngster sits just outside the top 10 in the drivers standings - with one fewer point than Lawson and Tsunoda COMBINED. 5 5 But teenage Brit Arvid Lindblad is also being considered to step up from Formula Two after completing his first free practice session at the British Grand Prix on July 6. The 17-year-old has also been undergoing extensive TPC outings behind the scenes as he prepares to follow in Kimi Antonelli's footsteps, speedily climbing up the feeder series ladder. Lindblad was born in 2007 and raised in Surrey to his Swedish motorcross racing father and Indian mother. Meanwhile, Tsunoda will be the latest in a long line of Red Bull second-seat victims, following in the footsteps of Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Sergio Perez and Lawson. The F1 season gets back underway in Belgium on July 27, with Verstappen allegedly already having met up with Mercedes chief Toto Wolff while on holiday in Sardinia.
Newsweek
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Red Bull to Part Ways With Yuki Tsunoda After 2025 Season: Report
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Red Bull Racing Formula One team will part ways with Yuki Tsunoda after the 2025 season. A report by GPBlog suggests that Red Bull will not extend Tsunoda's contract, which is said to expire at the end of the current year. The Japanese driver was promoted from Red Bull's junior F1 team, Racing Bulls, after the first two rounds of the 2025 season. Red Bull assessed Liam Lawson's performance in the first two rounds before demoting him to Racing Bulls. The report about Tsunoda's ousting arrives amid rumors of Max Verstappen's potential move to Mercedes, which gained traction after George Russell admitted that his contract extension discussions were on hold due to Mercedes' ongoing talks with the four-time world champion. Tsunoda's performance at Red Bull has considerably dropped, given that the RB21 F1 car is reportedly suited to Verstappen. He has been able to score ten points thus far as opposed to the Dutch driver's tally of 165 points. Yuki Tsunoda of Japan and Oracle Red Bull Racing walks in the paddock during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain at Silverstone Circuit on July 5, 2025 in Northampton, United Kingdom. Yuki Tsunoda of Japan and Oracle Red Bull Racing walks in the paddock during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain at Silverstone Circuit on July 5, 2025 in Northampton, United also struggled with Red Bull's title challenger in the first two Grands Prix. Not to forget Sergio Perez, who faced major challenges while piloting the RB20 last year, which eventually led to his exit after the 2024 season. Will Tsunoda endure a similar fate? The report affirms that Red Bull's experiment with Tsunoda is set to end after the current season. Furthermore, there remains a possibility of him moving to Aston Martin in 2026 due to Honda's influence, given that the Japanese engine supplier will partner with the Silverstone outfit from next year. However, the chances of him joining as a reserve driver are higher due to the lack of an available seat, but Tsunoda is less likely to accept a role that keeps him on the sidelines. Former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner was ousted by Red Bull last week, and Sky Sports F1's Karun Chandhok believes Horner led a one-car team so far, handing excessive power to Verstappen, while the other drivers struggled for performance. Chandhok believes this contributed significantly to Horner's exit. He said: "I think in some of what's happened, if you look at it in recent years, it's become a one-car team, right? We've talked about how since Daniel Ricciardo left, the way the car design has gone, the way the team has been structured, it's very much all the eggs in the Max Verstappen camp and in that basket. "And ultimately that's kind of created his downfall. It's put a disproportionate amount of power into 'Team Verstappen' to the point of which where, if you're the wider Red Bull group, you look at it and go, 'hang on a second, yes Max is on pole of the British Grand Prix, yes he's won two races this year, but the other cars nowhere.'"
