Was Red Bull right to overlook Tsunoda? - RacingNews365 debates

Red Bull has taken the decision to place Liam Lawson alongside Max Verstappen this year following confirmation of Sergio Perez's exit.

It marks yet another Yuki Tsunoda snub from the Milton Keynes-based team with the Japanese driver set for a fifth successive season at RB.

Lawson has been called up to the championship-winning squad despite having just 11 F1 grands prix under his belt.

Should Tsunoda have been granted the chance at Red Bull or does Lawson deserve promotion? 

RacingNews365 weighs in on the situation...

Tsunoda has been hard done by, but neither were right - Jake Nichol

One thing clear about Red Bull and its attitude towards drivers is that it is extremely hard to change the perception it holds. 

After sinking in the first-half of the 2019 campaign, Pierre Gasly was routinely overlooked for a return despite a stunning 2021 campaign at AlphaTauri. Likewise, a comment made by Christian Horner after qualifying for the 2021 Mexico City Grand Prix all but ended Tsunoda's chances of promotion in his rookie season.

He claimed Verstappen and Perez had been "Tsunoda'd" in qualifying - an unfair claim, but the die was cast 

He has matured into a driver, who by now, would have been given a chance in the senior team in the past, but clearly something is off for the team. 

But to promote Lawson after just 11 grands prix is utter madness and hands him a one-way ticket to outer Siberia - or Helmut Marko's bad books. 

The team clearly hasn't learnt its lessons in promoting Gasly and Alex Albon as young drivers alongside the force of nature that is Verstappen. He can destroy careers, and as the oft-attributed quote to Albert Einstein goes: "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

Red Bull clearly had misgivings about Tsunoda, and Gasly was never going to return, and that is fine. 

But there were still two better options than both Tsunoda and Lawson - Carlos Sainz and Valtteri Bottas.

Sainz should be in that seat and if Verstappen doesn't want him there after their tumultuous 2015 rookie season together, then tough. 

As for Bottas, he'd be an ideal candidate who has experience of handling an all-time great, is reliable, does a job and knows, all things being equal, he won't be challenging the number one. 

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In defence of the Lawson call - Fergal Walsh

Following stints with Alex Albon and Perez, it's clear that Red Bull is seeking a return to its 'traditional' route of handing a promotion to a talent it has supported for years and mirror the rise of Verstappen or Daniel Ricciardo.

The conundrum of who would fill out the second Red Bull seat alongside Verstappen came down to two candidates in Tsunoda and Lawson once it became obvious that Perez was heading to the exit door.

Red Bull has overlooked Tsunoda in the past, so perhaps it shouldn't be a major surprise that he has once again been snubbed.

But this time it will hurt more than ever as he has just come off the back of arguably his strongest season in F1, only to miss out on a front-running seat in favour of a driver with 11 starts to his name.

In defence of Lawson, it's clear that Red Bull sees more potential in the New Zealander with the data they have. 

It has been encouraged by the form shown by the 22-year-old in his short career so far versus Tsunoda, who will surpass 100 F1 entries next year.

2025 is poised to be a dramatic season with potentially four teams in play for the title - meaning Red Bull will not have taken the decision regarding its driver line-up lightly.

Lawson has proven his abilities to jump right into the deep end and perform, and while going up against Verstappen may well be the greatest test he will ever face, his years of sitting as a reserve driver in the back of the Red Bull garage may come back to assist him through the challenge.

He isn't blind to Verstappen's abilities and work ethic. It's up to him to repay the faith placed in him by Red Bull, which is undoubtedly somewhat of a gamble given its past history with hurried promotions.