Liam Lawson`s aspiration to excel with Red Bull in Formula 1 transformed into a disappointing experience within a mere 99 days. The 22-year-old driver is the latest talent from Red Bull`s program to struggle when paired with Max Verstappen.
Yuki Tsunoda, previously considered for a promotion but overlooked in December in favor of Lawson, is now set to become Verstappen`s teammate. This change marks Verstappen`s third teammate in just four races, starting from the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix.
The question arises: What led to this situation? Where did Lawson`s promising opportunity falter?
From his initial promotion to his subsequent return to Racing Bulls, we examine the brief and ill-fated period of his Red Bull tenure.
The Timeline of Lawson`s Red Bull Stint
Day 1: December 19, 2024, marked the beginning of Lawson`s Red Bull journey. Just 11 days after the end of the season with Racing Bulls and with only 11 F1 races under his belt, Lawson was announced as Sergio Pérez`s replacement at Red Bull, surpassing Tsunoda for the seat. Lawson expressed his excitement to ESPN, calling it a `dream` move, while acknowledging the significant challenges ahead.
He commented on the difficulty but also the immense opportunities, recognizing Verstappen as the ideal benchmark. Lawson stated his ambition to win world championships and aimed to reach that level swiftly.
Day 37: Following a break before the 2025 season, Lawson visited Red Bull`s headquarters at Milton Keynes as a team driver. He completed a seat fitting, expressing his enthusiasm about officially joining the team and working with familiar faces in a new capacity.
Day 56: Lawson experienced his first drive for 2025 in Red Bull`s RB19, a highly successful car, during a private test in Jerez, Spain.
Day 63: Red Bull, along with other teams, launched their new season at a high-profile event in London. Lawson spoke about the impending pressure and anticipated a challenging start to the season due to his unfamiliarity with the initial race tracks.
He conveyed his excitement and awareness of the pressure, especially concerning the unfamiliar tracks at the season`s start. Lawson clarified that he had no specific timeline for achieving wins or championships, focusing on the ultimate goal of winning races and world titles.
Day 70: Preseason testing in Bahrain saw Lawson begin his campaign with Red Bull, although a spin occurred during the morning session. Christian Horner, the team boss, remained positive, noting Lawson`s good initial session and smooth integration.
Lawson found the car comfortable to drive but acknowledged the difficulty in assessing their competitive position during testing.
Day 71: Lawson was scheduled for a full day of testing, but rain and reliability issues limited his running to 149 laps before heading to Australia, fewer than most drivers. Despite finishing 11th in test times, Red Bull praised Lawson`s performance. Technical director Pierre Wache highlighted Lawson`s feedback as being closely aligned with Verstappen`s.
Day 86: At the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, Lawson`s struggles became apparent, finishing practice sessions in 16th and 17th places, placing him at a disadvantage for the race weekend.
Day 87: Lawson`s difficulties escalated with a power issue in final practice and an 18th place in qualifying. McLaren CEO Zak Brown controversially suggested Tsunoda was more deserving of the Red Bull seat, based on Tsunoda`s superior qualifying performance for Racing Bulls.
Day 88: Starting from the pit lane due to car changes, Lawson`s race in Australia ended with a spin in wet conditions after a tyre strategy gamble. Despite this, Horner pointed out Lawson`s impressive second fastest lap time on dry tyres, suggesting Melbourne was not representative of his potential.
Day 92: Leading up to the Chinese GP, Lawson dismissed Zak Brown`s comments and denied being in a `spiral`. He emphasized the need for a strong weekend but acknowledged the high expectations.
Day 93: Lawson finished practice in 18th and qualified last for the sprint race, contrasting sharply with Verstappen`s second place. Horner reiterated confidence in Lawson’s ability but acknowledged he needed time. Rumors of his replacement began circulating.
Day 94: Lawson improved to 14th in the sprint race, which he deemed unacceptable, followed by a 20th place in qualifying for the main race. Lawson himself admitted he was running out of time to improve. Tsunoda responded to replacement rumors by expressing his readiness and highlighting the car`s performance.
Day 95: Lawson finished 12th in the Chinese Grand Prix, but was significantly slower than Verstappen and only gained positions due to post-race penalties for others. Horner declined to confirm Lawson`s seat for the upcoming Japan race, signaling his likely replacement. Horner mentioned the team`s struggle to compete effectively and Lawson recognized his need to perform to retain his position.
Day 99: Following speculation, Lawson`s demotion was officially announced. Red Bull cited a `purely sporting decision` to enhance car development, stating Tsunoda`s experience would be beneficial for the RB21`s development.
