Liam Lawson, the talented New Zealander who had once been seen as the solution to many of Red Bull’s racing woes, now finds his career hanging in the balance. However, former Red Bull driver and current ambassador, David Coulthard, believes Lawson will hold onto his seat for at least one more race.
Coulthard, who was at the helm of Red Bull’s racing team from 2005 to 2008 and maintains strong insider connections, voiced his thoughts on Lawson’s future. He expressed confidence that Lawson would get another shot behind the wheel at the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix, but also warned that if Lawson doesn’t perform well, his days at Red Bull could be numbered.
The stakes are high for Lawson, who rose to fame as a promising solution to several of Red Bull’s challenges just a few weeks ago. However, after two races and no points to his name, the young driver is now feeling the heat to retain his position at Red Bull.
Coulthard, in his role as a Channel 4 pundit, explained the predicament that Lawson finds himself in. “I sympathize with him, but this isn’t a business where you get a pat on the back for trying. It’s a business where lap time is everything,” he said. Coulthard pointed out that Lawson had squandered his previous two opportunities and now has one race left to prove himself.
Drawing a parallel to the situation faced by Sergio Perez last year, Coulthard noted that Lawson’s circumstances were eerily similar. Last year, Perez failed to keep pace with Max Verstappen, which led to his contract being terminated – a prospect that must surely loom large in Lawson’s mind.
Coulthard didn’t mince words when discussing Lawson’s performance at the Australian Grand Prix, which he called Lawson’s “home grand prix”. He said, “Emotionally, it doesn’t get worse. Everything that could go wrong did go wrong.”
However, Coulthard also emphasized that Lawson has a chance to redeem himself at the Japanese Grand Prix. He said, “He’s raced there before in Formula 1, so he has an opportunity to showcase the skills that got him the seat in the first place.”
Still, Coulthard warned that if Lawson fails to impress in Japan, the consequences could be severe. “If it doesn’t work there, I think the writing’s on the wall, and that’s tough. We all want to see these guys fulfil their dreams, but you’ve got to deliver,” he said.
As Lawson prepares for the upcoming race, he must be acutely aware that this could be his last chance to prove that he deserves to keep his Red Bull seat. The pressure is on, and only time will tell if he’s able to rise to the challenge.
