Despite his less-than-ideal debut for Red Bull Racing during the Australian Grand Prix, Liam Lawson is unfazed by critics – including McLaren team boss Zak Brown. Brown suggested that Yuki Tsunoda, who showcased a stronger performance during the race, should have been in the Red Bull seat instead of Lawson.
Lawson, a native of New Zealand, dismissed any suggestion that Brown’s remarks have affected him, stating plainly, “I couldn’t care less what Zak says.” The young driver’s debut race was marred by a crash due to challenging wet conditions that saw him retire prematurely.
His fellow Red Bull drivers, Isack Hadjar and Yuki Tsunoda, fared better, with Tsunoda finishing the race in 12th place and Hadjar ranked 11th in qualifying. Lawson, on the other hand, had a lackluster qualifying round, finishing 18th. To add insult to injury, teammate Max Verstappen secured a second-place finish.
Brown, in an interview with Sky Sports F1, praised Tsunoda’s performance, stating, “Yuki did a great job,” and adding that Tsunoda is “probably the guy who should be in the Red Bull if you look at how he’s performed.” He also took a jab at Red Bull’s driver selection process, hinting that it was “strange” at times.
However, Lawson remains unmoved by the criticism. When queried about Brown’s comments ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix, Lawson was dismissive. He admitted to avoiding social media for the past two weeks, thereby skirting any negative commentary.
Regarding his move to Red Bull and the increased pressure to perform, Lawson expressed that he felt no greater burden this season compared to the last. He cited the uncertainty of his seat in the previous season as a more significant source of stress.
Lawson is well aware of the ruthless nature of Formula 1. He acknowledged Red Bull’s propensity to replace underperforming drivers mid-season. Nevertheless, he maintains a proactive attitude, focusing on the preparation he has put in before the season and the more grounded setup he has now compared to previous years.