Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner says that Red Bull has swapped Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson because it has a “duty of care to protect and develop” the Kiwi driver after his difficult start to 2025.

After just two races with the senior team Lawson returns to the VCARB team for whom he did 11 races across the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

Tsunoda has been parachuted into the RBR team for his home race at Suzuka after the team exercised what it termed a “driver rotation.”

The Japanese driver has just a week to prepare for his debut with the team having done a day in the RB20 at the Abu test in December

“It has been difficult to see Liam struggle with the RB21 at the first two races and as a result we have collectively taken the decision to make an early switch,” said Horner.

“We came into the 2025 season, with two ambitions, to retain the World Drivers’ Championship and to reclaim the World Constructors’ title and this is a purely sporting decision. We acknowledge there is a lot of work to be done with the RB21 and Yuki’s experience will prove highly beneficial in helping to develop the current car.

“We welcome him to the team and are looking forward to seeing him behind the wheel of the RB21. We have a duty of care to protect and develop Liam and together, we see that after such a difficult start, it makes sense to act quickly so Liam can gain experience, as he continues his F1 career with Visa Cash App Racing Bulls, an environment and a team he knows very well.”

Racing Bulls boss Laurent Mekies made it clear that he was pleased to see Tsunoda get a chance.

“We’re incredibly proud of Yuki earning his well-deserved move to Oracle Red Bull Racing,” he said. “His progress last year, and more recently from the very start of 2025, has been nothing less than sensational. Personally, and collectively, it has been an immense privilege to witness those progresses for all of us in Faenza and in Milton Keynes.

“Yuki’s energy and positivity has lightened up every corner of our factories and of our garage and he will always be a Racing Bull! We wish him all the success he deserves at ORBR. Everyone here at VCARB is looking forward to working hard with Liam to give him the best environment possible for him to shine in our car and to express the talent we all know he has.

“He fit in so well last year, and we cannot wait to challenge ourselves and grow as a team. With Isack having started so strongly with us already, we know we have a young and strong lineup.”