THAT second seat | reading list

Red Bull have a reputation and it is very well earned. Their mid-season seat swaps are almost as sysnonymous with the brand as their 'gives you wings' tag line. Although many drivers probably didn't think they'd be using those wings to depart.

This instance is the most brutal to date. After 2 race weekends with Red Bull Liam Lawson will be heading down to Racing Bulls with Yuki Tsunoda getting a shot he has long coveted at the main team. In an ideal world both drivers would have been in these seats from the end of last season. But at least now Lawson can develop in a less intense, high profile spot and Tsunoda can get a new and needed challenge.

While Lawson's time with Red Bull may have been short, the story of how we got to this point extends further. In Spain '23, Red Bull brought an upgrade that would start the tragectory of the car being so incredibly front sensitive that veteran driver Sergio Perez would struggle to get out of Q1 regularly. Efforts would be made to better balance the car but eventually the decision would be made to try another driver. The debate between Lawson and Tsunoda came to an end when the team concluded the former had more potential and would get the promotion.

Now after three days of testing and two race weekends Lawson has been relegated to the development team. With less than a week before the start of obligations for his home race Tsunoda is finally at the main team. In his fifth year and with the momentum of his best season start to date, the hope is he can be the one to break the so called 'curse' of that seat.

Thankfully with this latest swap the urge to talk about that seat being influenced by some mythical power seems to have faded. Poor leadership and driver management are now points of discussion and rightfully so.

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For further context and details, please enjoy this reading list.

A Timeline of Lawson's short stint with Red Bull F1 | Casper Bekking, Motorsport.com

Sergio Perez and Red Bull agree to part ways following conclusion of 2024 season | Formula 1

Red Bull's worrying verdict on its 2025 car + our trackside take | Jon Noble, Scott Mitchell-Malm, The Race

Lawson promoted to replace Perez at Red Bull | Jonathan Noble, Autosport

Why F1 Driver Yuki Tsunoda finally got his big Red Bull chance after years of waiting | Luke Smith, The Athletic