Red Bull F1 star's EXIT warning issued in 2025 twist

An image of Max Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda — Photo: © IMAGO

F1 News & Gossip

Red Bull star's EXIT warning issued in 2025 twist

Red Bull could say goodbye to a star in 2025

Sheona Mountford F1 Journalist

Motorsport journalist working in F1 since 2024.

Thursday 16 January 2025 21:00

A Red Bull star has been issued an exit warning in what would be a shock a twist for the 2025 F1 season.

Liam Lawson will drive alongside Max Verstappen in 2025, with the unenviable task of going up against the world champion as his team-mate.

READ MORE: Hamilton set to ditch key partner

Article continues under video

The Kiwi replaced Sergio Perez following his axe from Red Bull at the end of 2024, after only six races with VCARB.

Lawson'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 and Daniel Ricciardo.

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, 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.

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.”

Red Bull Max Verstappen Ferrari Daniel Ricciardo Christian Horner Sergio Perez