Liam Lawson calls Red Bull demotion 'tough' but looks forward to Racing Bulls return
Formula One driver Liam Lawson admitted that his demotion by Red Bull after just two races was "tough," but he remains eager to rejoin Racing Bulls. The New Zealander was swapped with Yuki Tsunoda after failing to score points in Australia and China while partnering reigning champion Max Verstappen.
"Being a @redbullracing driver has been my dream since I was a kid, it’s what I’ve worked towards my whole life," Lawson shared on social media. "It’s tough, but I'm grateful for everything that’s brought me to this point."
Lawson struggled in his brief Red Bull stint, qualifying 18th and failing to finish in Australia before starting last in both the sprint and main race in China. He now returns to Racing Bulls alongside French rookie Isack Hadjar, having previously raced for the team in 2023-24.
The decision has sparked backlash in New Zealand, where pundits and racing figures believe Red Bull did not give Lawson enough time to prove himself. "It’s a cruel sport, but I really don’t think he was given a fair shot IMO," said IndyCar driver Scott McLaughlin.
However, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner insisted that the move was "purely a sporting decision," while motorsport consultant Helmut Marko suggested Lawson needed to rebuild his confidence. "His performance was unfortunately not good enough and that comes from self-confidence," Marko told BBC radio.
Marko emphasized that Lawson’s reassignment should not be seen as a setback. "He's not kicked out of F1 and Racing Bulls will give him the chance to recover and his career will start again," he said. He pointed to similar situations with Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon, both of whom rebounded after being dropped by Red Bull.
Meanwhile, Marko confirmed that Verstappen's contract includes performance clauses allowing him to leave if the team fails to meet certain targets. "We have to make sure he gets a car where he can win," Marko said, adding that a recent meeting with Verstappen and Red Bull engineers focused on improving the car’s drivability.
Formula One’s next race takes place at Suzuka, Japan, on April 6.
SportsLigue