Liam Lawson expressed his “shock” at being dropped by Red Bull, as team principal Christian Horner elaborated on this difficult decision. Red Bull recently demoted Lawson to their junior team Racing Bulls after just two races in his debut season, promoting Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda ahead of his home race this weekend.
This decision came shortly after Lawson was selected to be Max Verstappen’s teammate, surpassing Tsunoda, following less-than-stellar performances in Australia and China. In his comments, Lawson stated, “It was definitely a shock, honestly. It’s not something that I saw coming.” He elaborated on the unexpected nature of the decision, stating that discussions had suggested otherwise.
Red Bull has established a ruthless approach to mid-season driver changes, but the swiftness of this recent switch surprised many. Lawson’s struggles in the initial races were notable, as he faced tracks where he lacked experience, leading many in the paddock to question why the team didn’t let him race at a more familiar venue like Suzuka.
When asked about his feelings regarding the limited time he was given, Lawson said, “Honestly, yes. I would have loved more time.” He noted that familiarity with upcoming circuits would have helped his performance and admitted that the challenging start to the season had been exacerbated by a rocky testing period.
Horner acknowledged that it was unfair to expect too much too soon from Lawson. He emphasized the need for Lawson to rebuild his confidence in the Racing Bulls under less pressure while giving Tsunoda the opportunity to leverage his experience in Formula 1. “We need to improve the car,” Horner stated, stressing the team’s commitment to developing the vehicle while allowing Lawson to hone his skills.
Concerns over Lawson’s mental state during this transition were also highlighted by Horner, who admitted that the pressure was visibly affecting the young driver. He stressed the logical nature of the decision to reassign Lawson, suggesting a need for time and experience to fully develop his evident talent.
The next challenge for Red Bull will be to address performance issues with the RB21 car as they head into the Japanese Grand Prix. Lawson remains resolute that with time, he could adjust to the car’s challenges, stating that what he needed most was simply more time to adapt to the complexities of Formula 1.
As the Japanese Grand Prix approaches, all eyes will be on how both Lawson and Tsunoda perform in their respective roles, signifying an important moment in Red Bull’s season and driver development strategy.
