Liam Lawson Wins 2026 Racing Bulls Seat as Yuki Tsunoda Moves to Reserve Role

Liam Lawson has been confirmed for a 2026 Racing Bulls seat, a decision that rewards his late-season consistency while Yuki Tsunoda is relegated to a reserve driver role. The move concludes a turbulent year for both drivers, who each faced the immense pressure of racing alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull, ultimately leading the team to favor steady points over raw potential.

Why it matters:

This decision is a crucial signal from Red Bull about its driver development philosophy. It highlights the immense challenge of performing alongside a dominant teammate like Verstappen and suggests the team now values consistency and racecraft over qualifying pace and occasional flashes of brilliance. For Lawson, it's a vote of confidence; for Tsunoda, it's a major setback in his F1 career trajectory.

The details:

The choice came down to how each driver performed after their high-pressure stints with the senior team.

• Liam Lawson's 2025 Campaign:
  • Red Bull Stint: Lasted just two races after replacing Sergio Perez, struggling in Australia and China before being demoted.
  • Racing Bulls Return: Bounced back strongly, scoring 38 points over 22 races and demonstrating the consistency that impressed team management.
• Yuki Tsunoda's 2025 Campaign:
  • Red Bull Promotion: Replaced Lawson from his home race in Japan but largely struggled, with multiple Q1 eliminations and inconsistent race performances.
  • Final Standing: Finished 17th in the drivers' championship, with a lone standout result of 6th place in Azerbaijan that wasn't enough to save his race seat.

What's next:

Lawson will partner rookie Arvid Lindblad at Racing Bulls in 2026, giving him the chance to build on his late-season momentum and establish himself as a long-term Red Bull prospect. Meanwhile, Tsunoda will serve as the team's reserve and test driver, waiting for a potential opportunity to return to the grid. The decision sets a clear precedent for how Red Bull will assess its young talent in the high-pressure environment of its senior team.