Formula 1 News of the Week

The 2025 Formula 1 season is well underway, and the headlines continue to come thick and fast. With driver reshuffles, circuit developments, and post-race controversies dominating the conversation, this past week has delivered plenty of compelling storylines from across the paddock. As teams refine their strategies and look to gain every competitive edge, both on and off the track, we break down the most significant developments shaping the current campaign.

From Red Bull’s high-profile driver switch to long-awaited infrastructure upgrades at the Hungaroring and a costly double disqualification for Ferrari, here’s everything you need to know in the latest edition of Formula 1 News of the Week.

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Tsunoda to Replace Lawson at Red Bull Starting at the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix

BREAKING: Yuki Tsunoda will replace Liam Lawson at Red Bull from the Japanese Grand Prix#F1 pic.twitter.com/FCXUOyoBBZ
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 27, 2025

Well, well, well—Red Bull has dropped a bombshell ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix. Yuki Tsunoda will officially replace Liam Lawson in the senior Red Bull Racing team starting at Suzuka, sending shockwaves through the paddock and raising plenty of eyebrows among fans and insiders alike.

The move comes after Lawson’s underwhelming start to the 2025 season. The New Zealander, who was initially seen as a rising star after impressing as a substitute in 2023 and earning a full-time Red Bull seat for 2025, has struggled to live up to the hype. After a lackluster performance in Bahrain and a disastrous showing in China—where he finished P16 and P18 respectively—questions about his pace, racecraft, and overall confidence began to swirl.

Meanwhile, Tsunoda has been quietly delivering strong performances over at RB (formerly AlphaTauri), consistently outperforming teammate Isack Hadjar and proving himself more composed, mature, and technically sound than in previous seasons. His points-scoring finishes, solid qualifying sessions, and improved feedback in debriefs have clearly caught the attention of Red Bull’s top brass.

With the team eager to maintain their razor-thin advantage over Ferrari and Mercedes in the Constructors’ standings, Helmut Marko and Christian Horner have clearly decided they can’t afford to wait and see if Lawson finds form. Instead, they’re bringing in a hungry, homegrown talent with something to prove—just in time for Tsunoda’s home Grand Prix at Suzuka. Talk about drama with perfect timing.

This will mark Tsunoda’s long-awaited graduation to the main team, a move many fans have hoped for but few expected so soon. His fiery personality, fierce qualifying speed, and growing race discipline could give Red Bull a new spark—especially as Sergio Perez’s form continues to fluctuate.

As for Lawson, his future is suddenly murky. A return to RB seems unlikely with Hadjar developing rapidly, and there are no clear openings elsewhere on the grid. Red Bull has made bold driver calls before, and this latest switch proves that the pressure to perform is unrelenting—even for the sport’s supposed future stars.

Hungaroring Reveals Major Circuit Upgrades Ahead of 2025 Race

Hungary is turning up the heat—literally and figuratively. The Hungaroring has announced a massive upgrade to its facilities ahead of the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix, marking the most significant changes since the circuit opened in 1986. This includes new grandstands, an expanded paddock area, improved drainage systems, and even enhancements to corners 4 and 11 aimed at improving overtaking opportunities.

The updates are part of a long-term plan to keep the Hungarian GP on the calendar through 2032, and fans can expect a more modern, dynamic racing experience when the F1 circus rolls through Budapest this summer.

With its tight, twisty layout and limited passing zones, the Hungaroring has often been dubbed “Monaco without walls.” These changes might help shake up that narrative—and potentially the pecking order—especially for teams looking to capitalize on new overtaking chances.

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Ferrari Stung by Costly Double Disqualification in Shanghai

Frédéric Vasseur, Formula 1, Ferrari, Team Principal

Ferrari’s Chinese Grand Prix weekend began with promise but ended in bitter disappointment after both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton were disqualified from the main race for technical infringements. Following post-race scrutineering, the FIA determined that the wooden planks underneath both SF-25s had worn below the legal thickness, in breach of Article 3.5.9 of the technical regulations.

The incident dealt a significant blow to Ferrari, who had otherwise shown strong form throughout the weekend. In particular, Hamilton had provided a much-needed morale boost to the team by winning the Sprint Race on Saturday—his first victory in red and a reminder of his enduring competitiveness. It was a feel-good moment for both Hamilton and the Scuderia, with fans hopeful that it signaled a resurgence in Ferrari’s championship aspirations.

Unfortunately, Sunday’s Grand Prix told a different story. Although both cars initially finished in the points—Leclerc in P5 and Hamilton in P6—the post-race disqualification nullified their efforts and stripped the team of valuable Constructors’ Championship points. In their official statement, Ferrari attributed the excessive plank wear to an aggressive setup choice compounded by the bumpy nature of the Shanghai International Circuit, which made managing ride height particularly challenging.

The team emphasized that the violation was not performance-enhancing and that no malice or intent to circumvent regulations was involved. Still, in a sport where the rules are absolute and margins are razor-thin, the result stands.

This marks the second time in six months that Leclerc has faced disqualification due to technical non-compliance—an unwelcome trend that has raised questions about Ferrari’s internal checks and setup strategies. For Hamilton, the disqualification put a damper on an otherwise solid weekend, especially given the momentum he was beginning to build with his new team.

Heading into Japan, Ferrari will be under pressure to regroup and deliver a clean, competitive weekend. With the Constructors’ standings tightening and rivals like McLaren and Mercedes showing improved consistency, the Scuderia can ill afford another costly misstep.

Conclusion: All Eyes on Suzuka

As we turn the page to the next chapter of the season, anticipation builds for the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka. With Yuki Tsunoda stepping into the Red Bull seat in front of his home crowd, and teams scrambling to recover from early-season setbacks, the race promises to be a pivotal moment in the 2025 campaign. The iconic figure-eight circuit never fails to deliver drama—and this year, with high stakes and even higher expectations, it could be one for the ages.