All is not lost for Lawson, then. It is understood that Red Bull would consider promoting him again in the future, should he prove himself at the sister team.
The Milton Keynes-based squad however have never promoted a driver they have demoted previously, but that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t. Sources say they attempted to get Albon back for this season as a replacement for Perez but were unsuccessful.
For Tsunoda, it’s the chance he’s been craving, and one many felt he should have got already.
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The Japanese driver was hurt after Red Bull overlooked him for this year in favour of Lawson as he had just delivered his strongest season to date. But he came back stronger this year, qualifying fifth in the opener and eighth in China, leading many in Red Bull to take notice.
The 24-year-old is up against it getting parachuted in midseason with no opportunity to drive this year’s very tricky RB21. But he has nearly 100 Grand Prix starts under his belt and the momentum of a strong start to the campaign. He also performed strongly at the first two tracks he’ll race on, having scored a point at Suzuka last year – and taken points on his F1 debut in Bahrain.
Should he deliver this season, there’s no reason to think he won’t be retained for next year, that is unless Lawson is so strong at Racing Bulls, he convinces Red Bull to give him another shot. It’s up to Tsunoda now to prove he has what it takes to impress Red Bull bosses in a way many before him have struggled to do.
.webp?ssl=1 "James Hinchcliffe picks his top five drivers of the 2026 Formula 1 season so far")
