Written by Christopher Conway, Edited by Meghana Sree
Liam Lawson has had an awful beginning to his Red Bull Racing career, having not made it through any Q1 or SQ1 sessions since stepping up to the top team. Over the two rounds so far, the Kiwi has also been unable to match his four-time world champion teammate in race pace — with a best finish of 12th in China compared to Max Verstappen’s best of second in Australia.
Lawson earned a promotion after just 11 races between 2023 and 2024 for the Red Bull sister team. He was favoured over his more experienced teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, in his first full season of Formula One.
When asked what he needs to improve, Lawson said: “It’s just time. Unfortunately, I don't really have time.” This was echoed by Red Bull’s motorsport advisor Helmut Marko replying to the quote with “He is right.”
After his poor performance following Qualifying on Saturday, Red Bull opted to change the set-up, breaching the Parc Ferme rules.
Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner said: “Liam is struggling confidence-wise with the car at the moment, which is why we made some significant changes to see if we could find a more confidence-inspiring set-up for him.” Horner went on to say: “I think Liam still has the potential, we’re just not realising that at the moment. I think that is the problem for him, he’s had a couple of really tough weekends, he’s got all the media on his back […] The pressure naturally grows in this business, and I feel very sorry for him.”
In contrast, the driver now tipped to replace Lawson, Tsunoda, has had a very strong start to the season bar a 16th place finish in China due to a front wing failure during the race.
Marko, impressed by Tsunoda’s performance, stated: “Yuki is a different Yuki from the years before. He is in the form of his life […] He’s more mature. It took a while, but it now looks like it is working.”
Tsunoda finished an impressive sixth place in the Sprint Race in China and when asked whether he would agree to a swap in seats with Lawson, he replied: “Japan? 100%. I mean, the [Red Bull] car is faster.”
Horner did not definitively deny that talks were ongoing regarding a driver swap when asked about the possibility of Lawson not racing for Red Bull at Suzuka, saying: “I think everything is purely speculative at the moment. As I say, we’ve just finished this race; we’re going to take away the info and have a good look at it.”
However, Horner did not want to give the media any headlines, saying: “I’m not going to comment on a change, because that will be your first headline.”
To compound the issues for Lawson, there has been speculation in the rumour mill that Argentina’s Franco Colapinto could take the seat that opens up at the Red Bull sister team if Tsunoda makes a move to the senior outfit.
Colapinto, who impressed in the Williams last year, recently made the move to Alpine as a reserve driver and has been tipped to replace Alpine’s Jack Doohan before the season began but could now see himself in the running for two seats.
It is expected that Red Bull will make an announcement within the next week.
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