Liam Lawson pulled a nearly $100,000 Raptor pickup truck into the parking lot of the Ford Performance Center running a little bit late during his packed schedule of appearances as Red Bull's newest Formula 1 driver.

Yuki Tsunoda has secured a coveted Red Bull seat just in time for the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit, where he shares a deep connection with Honda. Helmut Marko acknowledges initially choosing Liam Lawson was a mistake.

Yuki Tsunoda's elevation to a Red Bull seat in time for his home Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka this weekend has changed the whole dynamic of the third round of a Formula One season so far dominated by McLaren.

It was only a few months ago that Yuki Tsunoda missed out on a Red Bull contract. At the time, the decision to put Lawson alongside Verstappen seemed hugely damaging for Tsunoda’s career – given the lack of available seats for 2026.

After just two races in the 2025 Formula 1 season, Red Bull Racing has made a bold change to its driver lineup.