Red Bull Racing’s fresh recruit, Liam Lawson, is navigating a challenging initiation into the team. The 23-year-old Kiwi driver’s rough start, including a disappointing 20th place qualifying finish at the Chinese Grand Prix, has led to a flurry of conjecture over his future with Red Bull. However, advice from Sky F1 pundit Karun Chandhok suggests that the team should hold fire on making any hasty decisions.
Lawson has been thrust into the spotlight following his replacement of the underperforming Sergio Perez. His arrival was expected to boost Red Bull’s competitiveness and shake off its ‘one-man band’ image that has been largely propped up by the consistent point-scoring of Max Verstappen. Unfortunately, this hasn’t been the case so far, with Verstappen still responsible for all the team’s points this year.
Chandhok, however, urges patience, suggesting that six races should be the minimum period before evaluating Lawson’s performance. He argues that the Red Bull car is clearly presenting some challenges, and any new driver would need a similar adjustment period. He cautions against prematurely judging Lawson’s capabilities, stating, “It’s a bit unfair to judge before that.”
Chandhok also hinted at a potential evaluation point for Lawson, post the first five ‘flyaway’ races and before the F1 circuit moves to Europe. He believes that this juncture may trigger some discussions about Lawson’s future with Red Bull.
This sentiment was somewhat echoed by former Aston Martin strategist Bernie Collins. She observed that Lawson’s struggles are highlighted by the better qualifying performances of the Racing Bulls, despite their car not being faster than Red Bull’s on a consistent basis. Collins advised against being too critical of Lawson this early in the season, questioning, “how many races before they have a check?”
Lawson’s early struggles at Red Bull serve as a reminder of the steep learning curve young drivers face when transitioning into new teams in the competitive world of F1 racing. The crucial question is – will Red Bull heed Chandhok’s advice and give Lawson the time he needs to find his groove, or will they buckle under pressure and make a premature judgment? We’ll have to wait and see.
