The F1 racing world is abuzz with speculation about the future of rookie driver Liam Lawson, who has struggled in his early outings with the Red Bull team. Team principal Christian Horner, while expressing sympathy for Lawson’s plight, has not dismissed the possibility of a driver change.
Lawson, a New Zealander, has had a rocky start to his tenure with Red Bull. His performances in the first two Grands Prix, in Australia and China, were underwhelming, failing to score a single point. His struggles with the RB21, the machine that Max Verstappen has driven to podium finishes, have fuelled talk of a potential driver switch.
Given his trials and tribulations, Red Bull is said to be considering all options, including standing Lawson down from the senior team. If such a decision were taken, a likely replacement could be Yuki Tsunoda of Racing Bulls, who has welcomed the idea of stepping up to Red Bull if given the opportunity.
During the media interaction following the Chinese Grand Prix, Horner acknowledged Lawson’s tough start but stopped short of quashing rumours about a possible replacement. He emphasized that the team would evaluate all data and continue to support Lawson. However, when asked directly about a replacement for Lawson in the forthcoming Japanese Grand Prix, Horner remained non-committal, stating that any such discussion was purely speculative at this stage.
Rumours have been further stoked by suggestions of a meeting to discuss Lawson’s future at Red Bull. Helmut Marko, Red Bull advisor, hinted at such a meeting, but Horner downplayed its significance, stating that no specific meeting had been set up.
Lawson, for his part, has been candid about his struggles with the RB21, acknowledging his responsibility as a professional driver to adapt to the car. The lack of testing time during an active championship season has compounded his difficulties, leading not just to lost points but also increased pressure from media and fans.
Horner expressed sympathy for Lawson’s situation, stating, “He’s got all the media on his back, a whole bunch of pressure that just naturally grows in this business. I feel very sorry for him that you can see it’s very tough on him at the moment.”
The troubles Lawson has encountered with the second Red Bull car seem to mirror the problems faced by Sergio Perez, as well as Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon, Perez’s predecessors at Red Bull. But Horner insists that the issues are not entirely car-related. He emphasized the team’s commitment to supporting Lawson, whom he described as a “very capable driver.”
Even Verstappen chimed in, suggesting that Lawson might fare better in the Racing Bulls car due to the RB21’s tricky nature. Horner conceded that the Racing Bull car could be more stable and easier to adapt to. However, he also pointed out the difference in pace between the two cars over a longer stint.
As the F1 world waits with bated breath, the future of this young driver in the Red Bull team remains a subject of intense speculation.