ADVERTISEMENT
AutoGear
  • Latest News
  • AutoGear TV
  • Sustainable Mobility
  • Motorsports
    • Circuits
    • Rally
    • Rally raid
    • WEC
  • English
    • Português
    • Italiano
    • Français
    • Español
    • English
    • Deutsch
    • 日本語
  • STANDINGS
No Result
View All Result
AutoGear
  • Latest News
  • AutoGear TV
  • Sustainable Mobility
  • Motorsports
    • Circuits
    • Rally
    • Rally raid
    • WEC
  • English
    • Português
    • Italiano
    • Français
    • Español
    • English
    • Deutsch
    • 日本語
  • STANDINGS
No Result
View All Result
AutoGear

Red Bull’s Second Driver Dilemma: Liam Lawson’s Struggle to Match Verstappen’s Pace in F1

Carl Harrison by Carl Harrison
March 23, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0
Red Bull’s Second Driver Dilemma: Liam Lawson’s Struggle to Match Verstappen’s Pace in F1

SHANGHAI, CHINA - MARCH 22: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing and Liam Lawson of New Zealand and Oracle Red Bull Racing walk in the Paddock prior to the Sprint ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of China at Shanghai International Circuit on March 22, 2025 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202503220028 // Usage for editorial use only //

ADVERTISEMENT

Red Bull’s second driver, Liam Lawson, has stumbled out of the gate in a debut that mirrors the troubled beginnings of numerous predecessors. This New Zealand native’s initial performance at the Chinese Grand Prix, where he was eliminated in the first round of qualifying and finished last in Shanghai, casts a worrisome shadow over his early career with Red Bull.

This situation is reminiscent of the ongoing struggle Red Bull has faced since the arrival of Max Verstappen nearly a decade ago. The Dutch driver’s exceptional talent and strong personality have led him to four consecutive title victories since his 2021 win over Lewis Hamilton. However, this success has come at a price, with the secondary driver usually facing an uphill battle. While Daniel Ricciardo managed to hold his own during his tenure with Verstappen, the team’s support was clearly behind Verstappen, leading Ricciardo to venture into relative obscurity with a mid-field team.

Red Bull’s attempts to find a suitable counterpart for Verstappen have met with mixed results. Pierre Gasly, who wilted under the pressures of the team, found success with Red Bull’s sister team, AlphaTauri. Alex Albon, too, faced a similar fate despite a longer stint with Red Bull. Sergio Perez, a vetted choice, balanced an underwhelming first season by proving valuable against Lewis Hamilton. His cooperation and high-performance stints led to a four-year stint of relative stability. However, despite holding his own against Verstappen on occasion, his performance eventually declined.

ADVERTISEMENT

The choice of Lawson as the secondary driver was a calculated risk. While Yuki Tsunoda, an established driver, was the seemingly logical choice, Lawson’s potential and mental resilience gave him an edge. However, after a lackluster test in Bahrain and an early exit in Australia, Lawson’s performance has been underwhelming. Despite Verstappen proving the capability of the RB21, Lawson has struggled to get out of Q1.

Lawson’s rocky start is reminiscent of the struggles faced by his predecessors in the same cockpit, leading to increased pressure. His lack of experience and the tricky nature of the RB21 have contributed to his lackluster performance. While not having raced at Albert Park or the Shanghai International Circuit before has been a disadvantage, it doesn’t lessen the need for him to step up his game.

Lawson’s performance stands in stark contrast to rookies like Kimi Antonelli, Gabriel Bortoleto, Isack Hadjar, and Jack Doohan, who have put their teammates under pressure right away. While Lawson hasn’t been tasked with matching Verstappen, he is expected to be within a few tenths of the Dutch driver and score points – a task he has yet to accomplish.

Despite Lawson’s potential and adaptability across various championships, his current performance is untenable for Red Bull. Whether it’s the pressure or the unique nature of the RB21, Red Bull needs to take action before it’s too late to compete for the title against teams like Mclaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes.

Lawson’s struggle might also be indicative of a fundamental issue in Red Bull’s design philosophy. If the team’s future lies in a succession plan that hinges on drivers like Lawson, then it’s essential to ensure that the car design allows for immediate comfort and performance.

With Tsunoda performing well and Lawson under immense pressure, a driver swap might be on the horizon. However, this could be a short-term solution to a deeper issue. Red Bull’s future success depends on its ability to develop a car that can be driven by drivers other than Verstappen. The time to act is now, and the stakes have never been higher.

Share212Tweet133Send

Related Posts

Antonio Felix da Costa Shatters Records in Stunning WEC Bahrain Test Debut for Alpine
Motorsports

Antonio Felix da Costa Shatters Records in Stunning WEC Bahrain Test Debut for Alpine

Antonio Felix da Costa Shatters Expectations in WEC Bahrain Test as Alpine Star Shines In a stunning debut that has...

by Publisher
November 9, 2025
Max Verstappen’s Shocking Pit Lane Start: FIA Demotes F1 Champion at Brazilian Grand Prix!
Motorsports

Max Verstappen’s Shocking Pit Lane Start: FIA Demotes F1 Champion at Brazilian Grand Prix!

Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

by Carl Smith
November 9, 2025
Ralf Schumacher Slams Red Bull’s Pierre Waché: Is This the End of a Championship Dream?
Motorsports

Ralf Schumacher Slams Red Bull’s Pierre Waché: Is This the End of a Championship Dream?

Ralf Schumacher Drops a Bombshell: Red Bull’s Technical Director Under Fire! In a shocking revelation that could send ripples through...

by Carl Harrison
November 9, 2025
Max Verstappen’s Shocking Pit-Lane Strategy Revealed: What It Means for Brazilian GP!
Motorsports

Max Verstappen’s Shocking Pit-Lane Strategy Revealed: What It Means for Brazilian GP!

Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

by David Castro
November 9, 2025

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent News

Antonio Felix da Costa Shatters Records in Stunning WEC Bahrain Test Debut for Alpine

Antonio Felix da Costa Shatters Records in Stunning WEC Bahrain Test Debut for Alpine

November 9, 2025
Max Verstappen’s Shocking Pit Lane Start: FIA Demotes F1 Champion at Brazilian Grand Prix!

Max Verstappen’s Shocking Pit Lane Start: FIA Demotes F1 Champion at Brazilian Grand Prix!

November 9, 2025
Ralf Schumacher Slams Red Bull’s Pierre Waché: Is This the End of a Championship Dream?

Ralf Schumacher Slams Red Bull’s Pierre Waché: Is This the End of a Championship Dream?

November 9, 2025
Max Verstappen’s Shocking Pit-Lane Strategy Revealed: What It Means for Brazilian GP!

Max Verstappen’s Shocking Pit-Lane Strategy Revealed: What It Means for Brazilian GP!

November 9, 2025

Newsletter

ADVERTISEMENT

  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • TECHNICAL INFORMATION
  • EDITORIAL STATUS
  • TERMS AND CONDITIONS

© 2023 AutoGear - Todos os direitos reservados AutoGear.

No Result
View All Result
  • Latest News
  • AutoGear TV
  • Sustainable Mobility
  • Motorsports
    • Circuits
    • Rally
    • Rally raid
    • WEC
  • English
    • Português
    • Italiano
    • Français
    • Español
    • English
    • Deutsch
    • 日本語

© 2023 AutoGear - Todos os direitos reservados AutoGear.