Red Bull’s rising star Liam Lawson made his much-awaited full-time debut at the 2025 Australian Grand Prix. However, his performance didn’t quite meet the high expectations, leading to Red Bull’s principal, Christian Horner, stepping in to defend his young talent.
Lawson’s opening day was far from a stellar one, as he grappled to keep up with the pace of his teammate, Max Verstappen, during the Free Practice sessions. In the second session (FP2), Lawson ended up a disappointing 17th, a significant six-tenths slower than Verstappen. His struggles continued from the first practice session (FP1), where he had landed in the 16th position, trailing Verstappen by over seven-tenths of a second.
Despite these challenges, Verstappen was able to secure a place in the top five in FP1, while Lawson languished in the lower half of the rankings throughout the day. In a candid interview with Sky Sports F1 after practice, Lawson admitted to his struggles, saying, “Comfortable, just too slow. We obviously have a lot of work to do overnight.”
Horner was swift in leaping to Lawson’s rescue, highlighting the steep learning curve the New Zealander is dealing with, given his unfamiliarity with the Albert Park circuit. Horner stressed on the challenges Lawson is up against, pointing out that even experienced drivers struggle to match Verstappen, let alone a rookie.
In his words to Sky Sports F1, Horner remarked, “Liam, it’s a big step up. Being Max’s team-mate is probably the toughest job in Formula 1. But he’s got the mental aptitude and strength of character to deal with that.” He further pointed out that Lawson was the only driver who had never driven at this circuit, but praised him for his promising feedback and adaptability.
Horner’s statements indicate that Red Bull is willing to give Lawson the time he needs to adjust. However, the pressure is bound to increase as the season progresses, particularly if Verstappen continues to outshine him significantly.
Meanwhile, Racing Bulls’ rookie driver Isack Hadjar put up a praiseworthy performance, ending FP2 in sixth, only a few tenths behind teammate Yuki Tsunoda. Hadjar’s experience at Albert Park in Formula 2 during 2023 and 2024 was a clear advantage – something Lawson lacked and which Horner hinted may have contributed to the difference in their performances.
Both Lawson and Verstappen battled persistent grip issues throughout both sessions, despite Red Bull introducing an upgraded floor at Melbourne. Their car, the RB21, appeared hesitant to activate its tyres, especially in the first and third sectors, which affected their lap times and overall pace.
Verstappen shared his concerns with F1 TV, saying, “The balance wasn’t completely out. No massive or major problems, just somehow the grip wasn’t coming alive. That means we’re not really up there at the moment.”
For Lawson, these issues added to his already challenging task of proving his mettle as a Red Bull driver. He confessed that the team was still seeking solutions, saying, “I think if we knew that [the issue], we’d know how to fix it as well.”
As the weekend progresses, Lawson will be eager to improve his performance in the final practice and qualifying sessions. However, given Verstappen’s struggles as well, it could be a tough weekend for Red Bull.
With the start of the 2025 Grand Prix Season, all eyes will be on Lawson to see if he can narrow the gap with Verstappen and silence his critics. Or, if this steep learning curve will continue to test him in the races to come.
