Liam Lawson: Yuki Tsunoda demotion is proof F1 is a “very, very tough game”

Liam Lawson discusses his contract extension with Racing Bulls and Yuki Tsunoda's move to a reserve driver role

Liam Lawson reflected on his journey from being replaced at Red Bull after just two races of the season to securing a contract extension with Racing Bulls.

Red Bull and its sister team announced earlier this week that Isack Hadjar is set to be promoted to a seat alongside four-time champion Max Verstappen at the Milton Keynes outfit. Lawson will remain at Racing Bulls and will be joined by Red Bull junior driver Arvid Lindblad.

"I definitely think about that phrase [everything happens for a reason] a lot, and I always try and tell myself that sometimes in the bad moments," Lawson told Sky Sports F1.

"At the start of the year, obviously, I was having a lot of those sorts of thoughts with what was going on, but at the same time, it's hard to say that now because I think to be in the sport, we all believe in ourselves, obviously. I think you couldn't be here if you thought that somebody was better than you.

"And I would have liked to have thought that with the right amount of time, I would have got my head around it honestly, because for me, two races was... I honestly don't even really remember them. They were so short, but I do believe in that phrase sometimes, and I do think that there are a lot of things that have happened this year that have made me a lot stronger, and I've learned a lot from."

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team

Photo by: James Sutton / Formula 1 / Formula Motorsport Ltd via Getty Images

The changes within Red Bull mean that Yuki Tsunoda is out of a full-time seat in 2026 and will instead move into a reserve driver role.

"I think it's tricky, because in the same way that I would feel for anybody that's not in Formula 1 that's worked a long time to get there, but at the same time, there are a lot of guys who don't get the opportunity ever," Lawson said when asked if he felt bad for the Japanese driver. "And he's had a few years in the sport. It's a very, very tough game, which obviously I've learned as well."