FIA steward Derek Warwick has expressed that Red Bull made a significant error by letting Sergio Perez go ahead of the 2025 Formula 1 season, especially given Yuki Tsunoda’s struggles after replacing Liam Lawson. Warwick described Tsunoda’s performance since joining Red Bull as a “disaster” and urged the team’s senior figures, including Christian Horner and Helmut Marko, to clarify Tsunoda’s status for the remainder of the year amid ongoing rumors of a further driver change.
Background: Perez’s Exit and the Rapid Driver Changes at Red Bull
Sergio Perez left his Red Bull seat at the close of the 2024 season after enduring a difficult year. New Zealander Liam Lawson was promoted from Red Bull’s junior squad, Racing Bulls, to fill Perez’s spot, despite only having a total of nine Formula 1 appearances spanning 2023 and 2024. Lawson’s stint was brief, lasting just two race weekends, as successive last-place qualifying results in both the sprint and main race at China led to his demotion.
Tsunoda then earned a long-awaited opportunity to race for Red Bull, immediately showing better pace and results compared to Lawson. This transition initially appeared promising for both Tsunoda and the team.
Recent Setbacks Cloud Tsunoda’s Position in Red Bull
Despite early improvements, Tsunoda’s form has sharply declined over recent weeks. He failed to progress beyond Q1 in two of the past three races, including a disturbing crash during qualifying at Imola. At the most recent Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, he recorded the slowest qualifying time of the entire field. These struggles, combined with the end of Red Bull’s long-standing partnership with Tsunoda’s backers Honda at the year’s end, cast serious doubt on his retention beyond 2025.
There is speculation within the paddock that Red Bull may execute a second mid-season driver swap, with Isack Hadjar, a rising star from the Racing Bulls team, considered a possible replacement. Hadjar has been impressing in his debut Formula 1 season, consistently scoring points and recently achieving his best finish of sixth place at Monaco.
Warwick, who officiated as an FIA steward at last month’s Miami Grand Prix, suggested Red Bull’s move to let Perez go may have been premature, given Perez’s contribution to consecutive Constructors’ Championship victories in 2022 and 2023. Warwick emphasized the need for the team to publicly affirm Tsunoda’s seat security to alleviate pressure on the driver.
Warwick Calls for Stability and Support Around Tsunoda
In an interview, Warwick said:
“I think Red Bull needs to try and find a way of making that second car fast, because quite clearly driving the same car as Max does not work.”
“They put every driver through there. We all know that Yuki’s quick, [but] he’s had a disaster.”
“It almost shows that Perez was doing a better job than we gave him credit for.”
“I think they need to come out now and say: Yuki’s in it [the seat] for the season.”
“You don’t keep on saying we’re looking at other drivers and all that sort of stuff, because all that does is put pressure on their driver.”
“And instead of driving with soft hands and a soft steering wheel, he ends up trying too hard, braking too late.”
“I think they need to give that second driver, whoever it is, confidence that he’s in for the season.”
“No question, I don’t care if he crashes every race, I don’t care if he’s lost every race, he’s in for the season.”
Was it a mistake letting Perez go? It looks like it.
— Derek Warwick, FIA Steward
Rising Talent Isack Hadjar and Racing Bulls’ Concerns Over Premature Promotion
Meanwhile, Peter Bayer, the chief executive of Racing Bulls, has voiced concern over Red Bull potentially rushing Isack Hadjar into the senior team too soon. Hadjar, a 20-year-old French-Algerian rookie, has made an immediate impact by scoring points in over half of the races this season and currently boasts a streak of three consecutive points finishes.
Bayer’s caution highlights the pressure to nurture Hadjar’s talent carefully to avoid stunting his development. He expressed his apprehension to Swiss-German publisher Blick:
For heaven’s sake, don’t take this talent away from us too soon.
— Peter Bayer, Racing Bulls CEO
He should get to know the whole business by the end of 2026.
— Peter Bayer, Racing Bulls CEO
Until then, we’ll just have to handcuff him!
— Peter Bayer, Racing Bulls CEO
Potential Comebacks and Ongoing Driver Speculation Ahead of 2026
Sergio Perez remains linked to a potential Formula 1 return, with rumors connecting him to Alpine and the upcoming Cadillac F1 team as candidates for a seat in the 2026 season. Reports circulating near the Miami Grand Prix suggested that Cadillac was close to finalizing Perez’s signing. However, insiders have confirmed that no driver appointments have yet been finalized this early into the current campaign.
Red Bull’s driver strategy for the upcoming seasons remains uncertain. The outcome for Tsunoda, Hadjar, and potentially returning drivers like Perez will be critical in shaping the team’s future performance and title ambitions beyond 2025.
