Christian Horner admits “perhaps we have promoted drivers too soon”

Christian Horner acknowledges Liam Lawson's Red Bull demotion after just two races of the 2025 season.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has admitted that the team has sometimes "promoted drivers too soon." This comes after the team decided to move Liam Lawson back to its sister team, Racing Bulls, and have Yuki Tsunoda replace him.

The move from the Milton Keynes outfit has been met with backlash as some argue that the Kiwi driver should have been given longer to prove himself, especially considering that Max Verstappen is also not 100% happy with the RB21.

While speaking to Sky Sports during a showrun with both teams in Tokyo yesterday, Horner addressed the decision, stating:

“In previous years we have perhaps promoted drivers too soon. If I think back to Alex Albon’s time… Pierre Gasly was rushed through as Daniel Ricciardo moved to Renault at that time as well.

"Particularly in Red Bull Racing, perhaps we have moved these juniors too soon. But that’s why we have a young driver programme and a talent pool that we’re looking to develop and invest in. It has given many drivers - I think seven of the drivers on the current grid have come through the Red Bull programme at some point in time.”

Lawson has addressed his demotion to Racing Bulls, stating that he "wasn't expecting it so early" in the season. He explained to the media, including Motorsport.com, ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix:

“It is maybe something I wasn't expecting so early but something that obviously is not my decision,” he said.

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

Photo by: Kym Illman - Getty Images

“For me it's about making the most of this opportunity now and still being in Formula 1, I still have that.

“I think I was more surprised. It's very early in the season and I would say I was hoping to go to a track that I'd raced before and have a clean weekend to have a chance like that.

“But the decision obviously was made when I was told. So, although it was tough to hear, I had one or two days to think about it.”

Although this will feel like a kick in the teeth for Lawson, the Racing Bulls team has shown great progress this year in comparison to 2024.