Red Bull F1 star tipped for brutal AXE in huge 2025 twist

Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda — Photo: © IMAGO

F1 News & Gossip

Red Bull star tipped for brutal F1 AXE in huge 2025 twist

Red Bull could say goodbye to a star in 2025

Sheona Mountford F1 Journalist

Motorsport journalist working in F1 since 2024.

Friday 17 January 2025 10:55 Updated: 16:22

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A Red Bull star has been tipped for a brutal Formula 1 axe in what could be a huge twist in 2025.

The Milton Keynes-based outfit will welcome a new addition to the team this year, with Liam Lawson partnering Max Verstappen for 2025.

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Lawson replaced Sergio Perez following his axe from Red Bull at the end of 2024, after only 11 races with sister team VCARB.

The Kiwi’s promotion dealt a blow to former team-mate Yuki Tsunoda, who was once again overlooked for the Red Bull drive despite out-performing drivers such as Nyck de Vries, Daniel Ricciardo and Lawson in recent seasons.

Liam Lawson will race alongside Max Verstappen in 2025

Yuki Tsunoda was overlooked for the 2025 Red Bull seat

Will Tsunoda leave Red Bull?

Tsunoda will enter his fifth season with VCARB in 2025, which is particularly concerning as Red Bull bosses have re-asserted the team’s purpose as a junior squad following the promotion of Lawson and Isack Hadjar.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner hinted at a Tsunoda axe following Lawson’s promotion, and said ‘you can't always be the bridesmaid’ in reference to him missing out on the seat once again.

Now, the Japanese driver has been tipped for a brutal F1 axe by 1997 F1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve in what would be a huge twist in the 2025 season.

"Tsunoda will be the first driver to leave the grid," Villeneuve said via Action Network.

"He’s only there because of Honda. At some point this will stop. And the writing is quite clear that this is his last season with the Red Bull family anyway.

"I don't see any team wanting him unless there's a big Honda push."

F1 Red Bull Max Verstappen Sergio Perez Yuki Tsunoda Liam Lawson