Christian Horner: Liam Lawson-Yuki Tsunoda swap "wasn't my choice" in 2025

The revelation sheds light on the complex internal dynamics at play within the championship-winning outfit, particularly concerning driver selections, which are often subjects of intense speculation and internal debate. The initial understanding, as suggested by sources close to the team, indicated that New Zealander Liam Lawson, a standout product of the Red Bull Young Driver Programme, was slated to replace Mexican veteran Sergio Perez for the 2025 season. Perez, who joined the Milton Keynes-based team in 2021, had faced mounting pressure over his performance consistency, particularly in comparison to his dominant teammate Verstappen. However, a significant reversal in this plan saw Lawson ultimately placed at the sister team, Racing Bulls (formerly AlphaTauri), while Japan’s Yuki Tsunoda was confirmed for the coveted Red Bull Racing seat alongside Verstappen for 2025.

Horner’s statement directly addresses the surprising nature of this pivot, particularly given Lawson’s impressive, albeit brief, outings in Formula 1. "It wasn’t my choice," Horner stated plainly. "I was always pushed to take drivers from the Young Driver Programme. Helmut was a big driver in it." This pointed reference to Dr. Helmut Marko, the long-standing architect and head of Red Bull’s formidable Young Driver Programme, underscores the significant influence the Austrian has wielded over Red Bull’s talent pipeline and driver assignments for decades.

Liam Lawson’s journey to the brink of a Red Bull Racing seat was marked by rapid progression and undeniable talent. After a solid junior career, including competitive seasons in Formula 2 and a strong showing in Japan’s Super Formula championship, Lawson’s opportunity in Formula 1 arrived unexpectedly in 2023. Stepping in for an injured Daniel Ricciardo at AlphaTauri for five Grands Prix, Lawson immediately impressed, particularly with his composure and pace at challenging circuits. His performance at the Singapore Grand Prix, where he secured a ninth-place finish and two championship points in only his third F1 start, was a particular highlight. This achievement was noteworthy given his limited experience and the fact that he was driving a car generally considered uncompetitive. Despite these promising displays, Lawson was confirmed as a reserve driver for 2024, with the expectation that a full-time F1 seat would eventually materialize. The internal discussions for 2025 seemingly placed him in prime position for the Red Bull Racing drive after a brief evaluation period that may have included hypothetical or actual limited appearances in 2024, as the original report suggested he "competed in just two race weekends before he was demoted to Racing Bulls, with Tsunoda taking his place ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix." This suggests a swift and decisive shift in strategy after an initial plan or trial.

Conversely, Yuki Tsunoda’s path to the Red Bull senior team has been one of gradual, yet consistent, improvement. A graduate of the Honda Formula Dream Project and a Red Bull junior, Tsunoda made his F1 debut with AlphaTauri in 2021. His early career was characterized by flashes of speed interspersed with costly errors and a fiery temperament. However, over his subsequent seasons, particularly in 2023 and the initial races of 2024 with Racing Bulls, Tsunoda showcased increasing maturity, improved consistency, and a refined race craft. He consistently outperformed his teammates, first Nyck de Vries and then Daniel Ricciardo, and became a reliable points scorer for the Faenza-based squad. His growing experience, coupled with his development into a more complete driver, seemingly tipped the scales in his favour for the highly sought-after Red Bull seat, despite Lawson’s compelling raw talent and recent impact. Tsunoda’s consistent points finishes and fewer incidents in the latter half of the 2024 season further solidified his candidacy.

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The decision to replace Sergio Perez for 2025 was widely anticipated. Despite his crucial role in Red Bull securing consecutive Constructors’ Championships, Perez’s form suffered significant fluctuations. While capable of impressive victories, his struggles with qualifying and maintaining pace in challenging conditions, particularly compared to Verstappen, often left him vulnerable. The Red Bull hierarchy has historically maintained a ruthless approach to driver performance, with a strong emphasis on nurturing talent from within its extensive junior programme. Perez’s contract extension for the 2024 season had been a topic of much debate, and his eventual replacement for 2025 underscores the team’s commitment to maximizing its competitive edge.

Horner’s remark about being "pushed to take drivers from the Young Driver Programme" highlights a fundamental tenet of Red Bull’s motorsport philosophy. Under Dr. Helmut Marko’s stringent guidance, the programme has produced an extraordinary roster of Formula 1 talent, including four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel, Daniel Ricciardo, Carlos Sainz, Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, and most notably, three-time world champion Max Verstappen. This talent pipeline serves as a constant source of potential drivers for both Red Bull Racing and its sister team, ensuring a steady supply of ambitious, highly competitive individuals. Marko’s influence in identifying, nurturing, and promoting these talents has been unparalleled, often leading to rapid promotions and equally swift demotions based on performance and potential. The implication from Horner’s statement is that while he leads the senior team, ultimate decisions regarding driver selections, especially those concerning the junior talent pool, often rest with Marko and the wider Red Bull motorsport management.

The internal power dynamics within Red Bull have been a subject of ongoing media scrutiny, particularly following the passing of Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz in 2022. The ownership structure, split between the Thai Yoovidhya family and the Austrian parent company, can lead to complex decision-making processes, especially on matters of strategic importance like driver lineups. Horner’s candid admission suggests a scenario where the Team Principal’s direct preference might not always align with the broader consensus or the directives from other powerful stakeholders within the Red Bull motorsport empire.

The emotional undertones in Horner’s subsequent reflections further emphasize the significance of these decisions and their personal impact. He reflected on his two decades at the helm of Red Bull Racing, stating, "The reality is that for me over the last 20 years, on the good days and the bad days, it’s been an epic journey." His more raw comments, such as "I never imagined to be in this position," and "Of course, your immediate reaction when you get delivered a s sandwich like that is like, f them. I’ve had something taken away from me that wasn’t my choice, that was very precious to me," suggest a feeling of having lost a degree of control or influence over a critical aspect of his team’s operations. These remarks, made in the context of a season that also saw Horner navigate significant personal challenges and an internal investigation, could be interpreted as a broader reflection on the shifting landscape of power and decision-making within Red Bull. While Horner continues in his role as Team Principal and CEO of Red Bull Racing, these quotes hint at moments of perceived disempowerment or being forced to accept outcomes that were not his preferred course of action.

The revelations, to be aired on Netflix, offer a rare glimpse into the usually guarded world of Formula 1 team management. For Liam Lawson, the decision means a continued opportunity to prove himself at Racing Bulls, albeit delaying his dream of a Red Bull Racing seat. For Yuki Tsunoda, it represents a monumental step up to a championship-contending team, placing him under immense pressure to deliver results alongside one of the sport’s greatest drivers. For Christian Horner, his comments underscore the intricate web of power, politics, and talent management that defines success at the pinnacle of motorsport. The 2025 season will undoubtedly be a fascinating chapter in Red Bull’s storied history, with the driver lineup decision now framed by Horner’s explicit dissociation from its ultimate outcome.

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Jonas Leo: Jonas Leo is a passionate motorsport journalist and lifelong Formula 1 enthusiast. With a sharp eye for race strategy and driver performance, he brings readers closer to the world of Grand Prix racing through in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive paddock insights. Jonas has covered everything from preseason testing to dramatic title deciders, capturing the emotion and precision that define modern F1. When he’s not tracking lap times or pit stop tactics, he enjoys exploring classic racing archives and writing about the evolution of F1 technology.