For the second consecutive week, Red Bull’s newcomer, Liam Lawson, finds himself navigating the challenging terrain of Formula 1 racing from the pitlane. Following a strenuous qualifying session, Lawson is set to make his entrance in the Chinese Grand Prix from the pitlane – a replay of his debut at the Melbourne season opener a week prior.
Lawson’s initiation into the world of the Grand Prix has been a rocky one. His season debut in Australia, marked by challenging conditions and eventual retirement after a spin, was anything but smooth sailing. The Shanghai round this weekend has thus far mirrored his Australian experience.
During the qualifying rounds, Lawson, a native of New Zealand, clocked the slowest lap time among the roster of 20 drivers, leading to his elimination in Q1. In an attempt to bolster his performance and enhance the 23-year-old’s stability throughout the race, Red Bull engineers made overnight modifications to Lawson’s RB21. However, these adjustments resulted in a breach of parc fermé rules, relegating Lawson to a pitlane start.
Despite this setback, Lawson remains hopeful. The pitlane start, while not ideal, offers a safer vantage point from which Lawson can strategically navigate the race.
Meanwhile, Lawson’s Red Bull teammate, Max Verstappen, will be jostling for victory from fourth on the grid, alongside the championship front-runner, Lando Norris. This stark contrast in performance between the two Red Bull drivers has escalated the pressure on Lawson, who has confessed to struggling with the RB21.
In a candid interview with Sky F1 following his elimination, Lawson opened up about his transition to racing with Red Bull and the mounting pressure he faces in his nascent F1 career.
“I think it’s just time,” Lawson said, reflecting on the challenges of adjusting to a Formula 1 car. He expressed his need for time to build confidence and familiarize himself with the RB21 – a luxury he currently doesn’t have.
His remarks suggest a looming deadline by which he is expected to meet pre-season targets, contribute points, and close the gap on Verstappen’s times. Lawson, however, remains self-critical, acknowledging his shortcomings and expressing his determination to meet his obligations to the team.
“But the window is so small that, right now, I just seem to miss it. I just need to get a handle on it. I don’t know how else to put it, it’s just not good enough,” he confessed.
As Lawson grapples with the steep learning curve that is Formula 1 racing, his journey with Red Bull is a testament to the intense pressures and expectations that come with the territory. It remains to be seen how the young Kiwi driver will fare in the Chinese Grand Prix and the rest of the season.