Liam Lawson wouldn’t have expected his Red Bull seat to be under threat so early in 2025. However, the 23-year-old’s place is undoubtedly under question – as he fails to extract performance from the RB21.
With each passing qualifying and race, Red Bull’s patience with Lawson is being tested.
His margin for error is already very limited, as Christian Horner’s personnel evaluate his alarming form.
Liam Lawson already walking a tightrope
On paper, there is every reason for Red Bull to give Lawson plenty of time to acclimatise.
This was almost certainly their plan, considering they overlooked both Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda before handing the 23-year-old a contract.
Even prior to his comeback in COTA last year, Red Bull saw Lawson as a preferred choice over Tsunoda.
The Kiwi only needed stay within a respectable distance of his Japanese teammate for a promotion.
He succeeded in this regard, which was enough for Christian Horner to give him the green light.
However, with just 11 races under his belt before 2025, Lawson’s inexperience is showing.
He is nowhere near Max Verstappen, but even worse, several steps away from fighting for points.
The situation is even more concerning than the height of Sergio Perez’s difficulties. He at least managed to finish in the top 10 and make Q3 appearances.
Red Bull’s patience could soon run out
Over the winter, Red Bull insisted over that Lawson had more potential than Tsunoda.
Unfortunately for the Milton Keynes outfit, the evidence suggests they overestimated the Kiwi’s adaptability.
Considering that Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon suffered a similar fate, their decision to overlook a faster, more experienced option in Tsunoda is all the more inexplicable.
Regardless, Red Bull are not oblivious to the concerning situation that is unfolding.
They cannot afford to give Lawson until the summer break to progress – at least whilst he is outside the top 10.
It is understood that the Japanese GP, round three of the season, will be crucial for Lawson.
Should he fail to improve in Suzuka, a track he is very familiar with after his time in SuperFormula, Red Bull will be pushed to consider alternatives.
After all, Yuki Tsunoda is ready and waiting.
Not only is Tsunoda more likely to deliver results, but it could be detrimental for Lawson’s career to spend weekend after weekend at the back of the field.
Speaking after another disappointing qualifying, Lawson was candid about the situation:
“It was a messy session and had we not dealt with traffic, it might have been okay.
“But it is still not good enough to be having these issues, we should be fast enough on our first lap.
“We shouldn’t need a perfect session to get out of Q1, we should be well down the road.
“It’s a tough car to drive for sure and you always want more time to get used to it.
“The window in this car is really small and that is known, but that is not an excuse. I have got to get a handle on it.”
Lawson aware he must improve
Before the season began, Liam Lawson made some very confident statement to the media.
He insisted that F1 drivers are “meant to be able to drive what we’re given”, regardless of other factors.
Although this comment does not mean he isn’t deserving of some grace, it shows his awareness of the high-stakes Red Bull environment.
If he were at least at the bottom end of the top 10, the Austrian team would like nothing more than to give him some breathing space.
However, his current run of form is unprecedented for any Red Bull driver in recent memory.
Lawson understands the severity of his situation, emphasising that no excuses can substitute results:
“We have had glimpses where it feels good, and I think to drive a Formula 1 car you need 100% confidence.
“I am not saying I don’t have it. But right now I just seem to be missing the window I need the car in – it is that I need to get on top of.
“The team are doing a really good job to support me, it is not something they can do.
“We are all working together and they will continue to help me with the car.
“But it is something I need to do, I need to drive the car faster. We have an opportunity tomorrow.”
