Liam Lawson didn’t expect Red Bull axing ‘so early’
3rd April 2025Liam Lawson has stated he wasn’t expecting the Red Bull axing ‘so early’ as he goes into the Japanese Grand Prix with Racing Bulls, having swapped with Yuki Tsunoda.
Feature image credit: Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool
In the fallout of the Chinese Grand Prix, after a horrid season opener at the Australian Grand Prix, Liam Lawson experienced the fastest Red Bull axe ever in the team’s history after it was announced he would lose his seat after two races.
This followed three Q1 eliminations across Sprint and regular qualifying sessions and non-point-scoring finishes in both China’s sprint and grand prix, which were compounded after a crash in Australia, a week earlier.
It was announced that Red Bull and Racing Bull, the senior squad’s sister team, would complete a driver rotation. This meant Lawson would drop down to Racing Bulls as Tsunoda finally got his promotion to the senior team.
Ahead of the Japanese race, Lawson said he didn’t expect this outcome so early but confirmed it wasn’t his decision. In the FIA Press Conference, he said:
“Obviously [it’s] an opportunity this weekend and maybe something I wasn’t expecting so early, but something that obviously is not my decision, and for me, it’s about making the most of this opportunity now, and obviously still being in Formula 1, I still have that.”
When he was pushed on if he knew anything about the call after the Chinese Grand Prix, the New Zealander claimed he had ‘no idea in China,’ and he had started preparations for the upcoming Japan race.
Since he returned to Racing Bulls, he has reportedly been in the simulator but suggested it could take a ‘session or two to adjust again,’ and will make full use of all three practice sessions.
However, Lawson has experience at the Suzuka circuit following his tenure in the Japanese motor series, Super Formula where he has claimed a pole position and second-place finish. About this, he said:
“That was what I was obviously looking forward to from the start, to be honest – to go to a track that I’ve been to before just to have a proper sort of preparation, and I now have that.
“So yeah, it’s exciting to be here. It’s a track that, I mean, I think we all like as drivers. It’s one of my favourite tracks to drive on, so yeah, I’m very excited.”
Read more Formula 1 here:
- Weather Report: The latest ahead of the 2025 F1 Japan GP
- Red Bull run Honda tribute with white livery ahead of Japan GP
- Haas F1 reveal cherry blossom livery ahead of Japan GP
- Liam Lawson shares first post after Red Bull axe
- Liam Lawson dropped Yuki Tsunoda promoted for Japan GP
- Ferrari issues statement following double Chinese GP disqualification
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Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.
I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
Kamron Kent
Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
