Red Bull’s decision to switch out Liam Lawson for Yuki Tsunoda had the whole of Formula 1 talking in the build-up to the Japanese Grand Prix – here Motorsport.com picks out the best reactions to the n

Liam Lawson is out to "prove I belong" in Formula 1 after his demotion from Red Bull to Racing Bulls. The New Zealander struggled to make an impact in his two races with the Milton Keynes-based team and was dropped after qualifying last for both the sprint and grand prix at the Shanghai International Circuit.

Team RB drivers Liam Lawson of New Zealand, left, with Isack Hadjar of France, speaks in front of their crew's video near their garage at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Thursday, April 3, 2025, ahead Sunday's Japanese Formula One Grand Prix race.

Liam Lawson said he was surprised at being demoted by the Red Bull team after only two races of the new season but remained determined to make his mark in Formula One with the junior Racing Bulls team.

Liam Lawson has talked publicly about his shock departure from Red Bull Racing after just two races into the 2025 season.

After just two races with Red Bull, Liam Lawson is making his return to Visa Cash App Racing Bulls at the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix. In the team’s media preview, Lawson called the weekend a “big opportunity” as he looks to bounce back after a difficult start to the season.

Tsunoda was promoted to Red Bull’s senior team a week ago in place of Liam Lawson. The two drivers were teammates at RB’s junior F1 team Racing Bulls for the final six races of the 2024 season. After Red Bull Racing moved on from Sergio Perez at the end of the season, Lawson got the call to jump up instead of Tsunoda.

Or can Max Verstappen sign off Red Bull's power unit partnership, which ends at the end of 2025, with Japanese manufacturers Honda with a fourth successive win in their special livery. Friday looks set to be mild and sunny with highs of 15°C,