Christian Horner won’t like one Isack Hadjar stat after swapping Liam Lawson for Yuki Tsunoda at Red Bull

Follow us on Google Discover

Red Bull Racing have been in a precarious position ever since Sergio Perez’s performances started to drop off midway through last season.

While Max Verstappen proved to be more than capable of driving around the problems with Red Bull’s car, Perez was in a world of trouble.

Red Bull confirmed Perez’s exit at the end of the 2024 season, promoting Liam Lawson in his place.

Lawson had a mountain to climb, getting used to the RB21 after a disrupted pre-season and with less time available to him than anyone would have possibly imagined.

Two races later, Lawson was demoted for Yuki Tsunoda, a driver whom Red Bull repeatedly overlooked when they needed a teammate for Perez.

Horner cited Lawson’s mental strength as one of the reasons he was chosen over Tsunoda, before completely sapping the New Zealander’s confidence with an incredibly harsh decision to demote him.

Tsunoda’s debut in Japan wouldn’t have inspired confidence in Horner who can only justify dropping Lawson so quickly because he expected an immediate reaction from the 24-year-old driver.

Amid all this, Isack Hadjar continues to go about his business impressively in his debut Formula 1 season with Racing Bulls.

After three race weekends, Hadjar now has more points than Lawson and Tsunoda in a theoretically slower car, which will be giving Horner food for thought.

READ MORE: Know all about Red Bull team principal Christian Horner with net worth to wife

Isack Hadjar leads Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson in the F1 drivers’ championship

Hadjar was asked on Sky Sports F1 (6/4 8:12 am) about being next in line to race for Red Bull after Tsunoda’s promotion, and he replied: “To be honest, I’m really enjoying where I’m at at the moment.

“I would never refuse a call, that’s for sure. But, yeah, let’s see.

“I’m honestly just having fun at the moment.”

He was then asked about the change in dynamic at Racing Bulls and continued: “I still think Liam is more experienced, even within the team.

“He was already driving for them in 2023, so he’s bringing a bit more experience than I have but obviously, I started the year here, so let’s call it equal.

“But yeah, we’re definitely working really, really well together.”

Team principal Laurent Mekies was delighted with his young driver after the race and said: “A good Sunday here in Suzuka, it’s been an amazing weekend, especially from Isack, with P7 in Qualifying and P8 today in the race with some seriously fast cars behind him.

“That was quite something in only his third Formula 1 race at such a difficult track.

“He confirmed that talent today with a faultless race: 53 laps perfectly executed between him and the team, and his first F1 points in the bag.”

READ MORE: Who is Racing Bulls 2025 F1 driver Isack Hadjar? Everything you need to know

Where does Yuki Tsunoda’s Red Bull debut leave Christian Horner?

The last thing Red Bull can afford to do is make another change, and so Tsunoda is going to be given more time than Lawson almost regardless of how well he performs.

The Japanese driver bettered Lawson’s efforts in qualifying at the first attempt, albeit at a track he knew far better than the man he replaced knew the circuits in Australia and China.

However, amid all of this, Hadjar has continued to improve in almost every session he’s taken part in, with less experience than both drivers.

Hadjar’s mistake on the formation lap in Melbourne seems like a thing of the past at this stage.

Horner may be pleased with how well Red Bull’s junior program is working based on Hadjar’s immediate ability to adapt to F1, but it’s another sign that the RB21 is hindering the team’s young drivers, rather than encouraging them.