Horner Admits Liam Lawson's 2025 Red Bull Promotion Was a Mistake

Former Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner has revealed in his autobiography, Drive, that Liam Lawson’s 2025 promotion to the senior team was a fundamental error. Horner argues that Lawson was thrust into a seat alongside Max Verstappen without sufficient experience, a move driven by Helmut Marko despite Horner's own reservations.

Why it matters:

This revelation exposes the internal tension within Red Bull's leadership and the volatility of their driver pipeline. It highlights a clash between Marko's aggressive promotion strategy and Horner's preference for stability, illustrating how misalignment at the top can jeopardize a young driver's career trajectory and team performance.

The Details:

• Internal Conflict: Horner claims Helmut Marko championed the move and allegedly promised Lawson the seat before the 2024 Abu Dhabi GP, while Horner felt the driver was too inexperienced with only 11 starts.
• Rapid Decline: The promotion lasted only two races. After crashing out of the Australian Grand Prix and finishing 12th in China, Lawson was replaced by Yuki Tsunoda before the Japanese GP.
• Lawson's Perspective: Lawson later expressed that he was blindsided by his demotion and revealed that his poor result in China was partly due to experimental set-up changes requested by the team.
• Recent Redemption: A subsequent substitute role for the injured Isack Hadjar saw Lawson secure a 6th place in Madrid and 7th at Zandvoort, proving his maturity and growth.

The Big Picture:

Despite the 2025 turmoil, Lawson has spent 2026 rehabilitating his reputation at Racing Bulls. Currently sitting 9th in the Drivers' Championship with 75 points, he has contributed 61% of his team's total points this season, establishing himself as one of the most consistent drivers on the grid.

What's next:

As the 2027 season approaches, Lawson's future remains the subject of intense speculation. While his current form makes him a strong candidate to retain his seat, Racing Bulls has yet to finalize its lineup amid interest in F2 standout Nikola Tsolov. Team Principal Alan Permane is expected to announce the final decision in the coming weeks.