Red Bull Demotion ‘Tough’, Says Lawson 

Red Bull driver Liam Lawson of New Zealand during the drivers portrait photo session ahead of the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, March 13, 2025. (AP)
Red Bull driver Liam Lawson of New Zealand during the drivers portrait photo session ahead of the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, March 13, 2025. (AP)
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Red Bull Demotion ‘Tough’, Says Lawson 

Red Bull driver Liam Lawson of New Zealand during the drivers portrait photo session ahead of the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, March 13, 2025. (AP)
Red Bull driver Liam Lawson of New Zealand during the drivers portrait photo session ahead of the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, March 13, 2025. (AP)

Formula One driver Liam Lawson said his demotion by Red Bull after two races was "tough", but he is excited to work with his former team Racing Bulls.

The New Zealander was replaced by Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda in a straight swap between the sister teams after not scoring a point in Australia and China as defending champion Max Verstappen's new teammate.

"Being a @redbullracing driver has been my dream since I was a kid, it's what I've worked towards my whole life," the 23-year-old wrote on social media.

"It's tough, but I'm grateful for everything that's brought me to this point. To every one of you who's stood by me, thank you for all the support it means the world.

"Thank you @visacashapprb for the warm welcome, I'm excited and ready to go to work at one of my favorite places."

Lawson qualified 18th and failed to finish in Australia before qualifying last for the sprint and race in China.

He will join French rookie Isack Hadjar at Italy-based Racing Bulls where he raced 11 times across 2023-24.

Lawson's demotion has gone down poorly in New Zealand where pundits and motor racing figures blamed Red Bull for not giving him time to prove himself.

"It's a cruel sport, but I really don't think he was given a fair shot IMO," IndyCar driver Scott McLaughlin said.

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said Lawson's replacement was "purely a sporting decision" and that Red Bull would support the New Zealander as best they could.

Japan hosts the next round of F1 at Suzuka on April 6.



Crown Prince, Trump Tour Stadium Exhibition of 2034 FIFA World Cup in Saudi Arabia

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, speaks with US President Donald Trump on the day of the Saudi-US Investment Forum, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 13, 2025. (Reuters)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, speaks with US President Donald Trump on the day of the Saudi-US Investment Forum, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 13, 2025. (Reuters)
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Crown Prince, Trump Tour Stadium Exhibition of 2034 FIFA World Cup in Saudi Arabia

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, speaks with US President Donald Trump on the day of the Saudi-US Investment Forum, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 13, 2025. (Reuters)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, speaks with US President Donald Trump on the day of the Saudi-US Investment Forum, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 13, 2025. (Reuters)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and US President Donald Trump toured on Tuesday the projects of stadiums that will be used at the 2034 FIFA World Cup that will be hosted by Saudi Arabia.

The exhibition was held on the sidelines of the Saudi-US Investment Forum in Riyadh.

The leaders paused to admire the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium that will be constructed in Riyadh and which is seen as the most prominent of the projects that will consolidate the region's position on the global football map.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino took part in the forum where he appeared with the official match ball for the 32-team FIFA Club World Cup 2025, which will take place in the US from June 14 to July 13 with Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal among the 32 participating teams.

Infantino took part in a fireside chat with Richard Attias, Founder and Chairman of the eponymous Richard Attias and Associates and Chairman of the Executive Committee, FII Institute, said FIFA in a statement.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino (L) presents the official match ball for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 during the Saudi-US investment forum in Riyadh on May 13, 2025. (AFP)

The 2034 World Cup, the first with 48 teams to be held in a single nation, will showcase Saudi Arabia’s rich heritage, dynamic transformation and deep-rooted passion for football, it added.

“The country also enjoys a growing reputation as a world-class international destination, hosting a number of sporting events, including the inaugural FIFA Series in 2024, the FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023 and the upcoming 2027 AFC Asian Cup,” it noted.

Infantino explained that countries such as Saudi Arabia could help football fulfill its potential financially. “The global football GDP (gross domestic product) in one year today is around USD 270 billion of which about 70% is produced in Europe,” he said.

Pointing out that the European GDP is much smaller when compared to the global GDP, he added: “If the rest of the world, in particular Saudi Arabia or the United States, would do just 20% of what Europe does in soccer, we (could reach an amount of over) half a trillion or more of GDP impact (with our sport). The potential for football is huge.”

“The opportunities are huge. Football is a game followed by five billion people around the world. We need to find a way to connect these five billion people, because that’s what they are watching: a (FIFA) World Cup, 104 games in one month, 104 Super Bowls in one month,” Infantino said.

“A competition like the (FIFA) World Cup is really transformative, not just for a country, and for a region, but really for the entire world. Football is, of course, the world’s number one sport. Five billion people are football fans, or soccer fans, around the world.”