Formula 1 has been rocked by explosive rumors leaking straight out of the Red Bull camp—whispers that could end Yuki Tsunoda’s career at the top level and open the door for Liam Lawson’s stunning return. What began as quiet speculation has now snowballed into a full-blown storm: senior advisor Helmut Marko has reportedly sounded the alarm about Red Bull’s second seat, while new Team Principal Laurent Mekies has hinted at “big changes” coming as early as 2026. The message is crystal clear—no driver is safe, and Tsunoda is standing right on the edge of the abyss.
Tsunoda’s numbers tell a brutal story. Despite entering 2025 with hype and promise, he has delivered just 7 points all season, a paltry return that has left the team furious. In stark contrast, Lawson—demoted earlier in the year—has been on fire since joining the Racing Bulls, already banking 20 points, including a heroic sixth place in Austria and an eighth in Hungary where he even held Verstappen at bay. Those performances have not gone unnoticed in Red Bull’s boardrooms. Lawson is suddenly the golden boy again, and Tsunoda is fighting for his survival.
The situation inside Red Bull has grown dire. With Verstappen shouldering the entire burden of scoring, Tsunoda’s underperformance has become a glaring weakness. Rival teams like Ferrari, Mercedes, and Aston Martin are closing the gap fast, and Marko knows they cannot afford dead weight in the Constructors’ battle. As one insider bluntly put it: “Red Bull needs two lions. Right now, they have one lion and one cub.”
To make matters worse, the next generation is already knocking on the door. Rising star Arvid Lindblad is tearing up F2, and whispers say he could leapfrog straight into the F1 frame by 2026. That means Tsunoda isn’t just fighting Lawson—he’s fighting the entire Red Bull talent machine, and the walls are closing in. Every mistake, every lost point, pushes him closer to the exit door.
Publicly, Mekies is still defending Tsunoda, insisting the team is “committed to his growth” and that he deserves “a chance at redemption.” But behind closed doors, the knives may already be out. Marko’s icy comments about the “impossible task of competing alongside Verstappen” sounded less like sympathy and more like a warning: step up now, or step aside.
Lawson, meanwhile, is keeping his cool. Asked about the rumors, he brushed them off: “Honestly, I’m just focused on racing. Whatever happens with the future, happens.” But that calm exterior hides a driver who knows he’s closer than ever to the seat of his dreams. Every lap, every overtake, is a direct audition for Red Bull’s bosses—and right now, he’s passing with flying colors.
This drama is more than just a driver battle—it’s a defining moment for Red Bull’s future. Will they gamble on Tsunoda finding form, or will they bring back Lawson to form a Verstappen–Lawson super-team that could dominate the next era of F1? With new regulations looming in 2026, the decision Red Bull makes now could shape the championship for years to come.
For Tsunoda fans, the reality is brutal: unless he turns his season around immediately, this could be the end of the road. The next few races will decide everything. The paddock is buzzing, the tension is unbearable, and the question on everyone’s lips is the same: is Tsunoda driving his final season in F1?
👉 Buckle up, because this story is only getting started. Red Bull’s shocking driver dilemma is about to explode—and when it does, the fallout will change Formula 1 forever.
