Hanna Ifri
With no surprise at all, Red Bull have chosen to end the season with a bang. Anticipated by all and now official, Sergio “Checo” Perez departs Red Bull Racing and Liam Lawson follows suit into his seat. After a lacklustre 2024 season, the Mexican driver who joined Red Bull in 2021 struggled to deliver consistent results this year, securing only four podiums and finishing a disappointing 8th in the drivers’ championship with 152 points. A stark comparison to his second-place position last year with 285 points. Adding to the upheaval, Liam Lawson has been promoted into the seat following a mid-season entry as he replaced Daniel Ricciardo at VCARB earlier in the year.
Checo’s underperformance left Red Bull with little choice but to look elsewhere, and Liam Lawson has emerged as the next big hope of the senior team. The 21-year-old Kiwi who raced 6 races this season, ending two of them in the points and one on a DNF seems to have impressed Horner and Marko in order to receive the coveted Red Bull seat beside now four-time World Champion Max Verstappen. While Verstappen remains the dominant force in Formula One, Lawson’s arrival brings fresh energy to the team – though he’ll face immense pressure to deliver results immediately.
Perez’s departure and the two new signings now mark a turning point for Red Bull Racing and its junior team.
The decision to promote Lawson however has reignited debates about Yuki Tsunoda’s treatment within the Red Bull Driver program. The Japanese driver who has made significant strides in his four seasons with the Red Bull partner team now known as Racing Bulls; consistently outperforming his machinery, delivering successful results and bringing the car to P3, a feat which his former teammate Lawson hasn’t achieved is causing a stir as his efforts have been passed over once again for a Red Bull Racing Seat.
Many fans and analysts argue that Tsunoda’s growth and loyalty should have earned him the opportunity to step up, especially given Perez’s poor form.
Instead, Tsunoda will stay with VCARB for 2025, where he’ll be expected to lead the team. Many fans and analysts argue that Tsunoda’s growth and loyalty should have earned him the opportunity to step up, especially given Perez’s poor form.
Adding to the controversy surrounding the Red Bull roster shake-up, some fans have taken to social media to express concerns that Tsunoda’s exclusion from the Red Bull seat may stem from bias, with accusations of racism surfacing in the discourse. Tsunoda, who has consistently outperformed expectations in an underwhelming car and shown marked improvement over all his seasons, has garnered a loyal fanbase that feels his contributions have been overlooked.
“The only reason I can think that Red Bull haven’t promoted Yuki Tsunoda is racism.”– Joshua Hemmings via X
While Red Bull has a history of marking ruthless decisions based on performance, the optics of promoting other drivers over Tsunoda – despite his strong results – have sparked heated debate about whether unconscious bias played a role in the decision-making process.
Beside Tsunoda, further down the Red Bull ladder, rising star Isack Hadjar will make his Formula One debut with VCARB, taking the second seat. The French Algerian driver has showcased his potential in Formula 2, coming second in the driver’s championship, only ending 22.5 points behind the champion. Hadjar’s promotion underscores Red Bull’s strategy of investing heavily in young talent, but it also raises questions about the stability of VCARB. With now one of the youngest driver pairings on the grid, the team will be under intense scrutiny as they aim to climb the midfield rankings.
Perez’s departure and the two new signings now mark a turning point for Red Bull Racing and its junior team. By bringing in Lawson and Hadjar, the organisation is signalling a clear focus on the future. However, the decisions to sideline Tsunoda and overhaul their driver roster will undoubtedly continue to spark debate.
Heading into 2025, the Red Bull teams have set themselves up for both opportunity and risk. Lawson and Hadjar have shown promise, but they will need to prove themselves quickly to justify Red Bull’s aggressive strategy. As for Perez and Ricciardo, their exits serve as a stark reminder of the ruthless nature of Formula One. In a sport where only the best survives, even fan favourites and seasoned veterans are not immune to the chopping block.
Hanna Ifri
Featured image courtesy of [jnbanasik] via [Unsplash]. Image use license found here (Unsplash). No changes were made to this image.
In article image 1 courtesy of [redbullracing] via [Instagram]. No changes were made to this image.
In article image 2 courtesy of [redbullracing] via [Instagram]. No changes were made to this image.
In article image 3 courtesy of [yukitsunoda0511] via [Instagram]. No changes were made to this image.
For more content including uni news, reviews, entertainment, lifestyle, features and so much more, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to get involved.
For further sports content and ways to get involved, follow @ImpactSport on Twitter and Instagram, and like the Impact Sport Facebook page!
