Yuki Tsunoda replaces Liam Lawson at Red Bull Formula 1 team, effective immediately, as announced by team principal Christian Horner on Thursday.
What happened?
Red Bull dropped Liam Lawson after a difficult start to the season, with the New Zealander failing to score points in the first two rounds.
Lawson struggled with the RB21 car, crashing out of the Australian Grand Prix and qualifying last for the Chinese Grand Prix.
Why it matters for Yuki Tsunoda
Tsunoda's promotion to the main Red Bull team is a significant opportunity for the 24-year-old Japanese driver, who has been with the Red Bull junior team since 2021.
Tsunoda has yet to finish on the podium in his Formula 1 career, but has shown promise with a career-best championship placing of 12th last year.
What comes next?
Tsunoda will make his debut with the Red Bull team at the Japanese Grand Prix next week, a home race for the Japanese driver.
Christian Horner acknowledged that the team has work to do with the RB21 car, and Tsunoda's experience will be beneficial in helping to develop it.
Tsunoda's long-term future is complicated by his personal backing from Honda, which is being replaced as Red Bull's engine supplier at the end of the year.
Laurent Mekies, team principal of Racing Bulls, praised Tsunoda's progress, saying it has been "nothing less than sensational" since the start of 2025.
Tsunoda becomes Max Verstappen's sixth teammate in 10 seasons with Red Bull, and the first driver to be replaced mid-season since Pierre Gasly in 2019.
The change is a sign of how cut-throat Formula 1 can be, with Red Bull admitting they made the wrong choice in picking Lawson, who completed only 11 career F1 races before this season.
Lawson will take Tsunoda's place at Racing Bulls alongside rookie Isack Hadjar, giving him the opportunity to gain experience and continue his F1 career.
As of March 27, 2025, Tsunoda is set to make his debut with the Red Bull team, marking a new chapter in his Formula 1 career.