How Liam Lawson's brutal Red Bull demotion saved his F1 career

Liam Lawson's Formula 1 career appeared to be over after a disastrous two-race stint with Red Bull in early 2025, but a swift demotion back to Racing Bulls became the catalyst for his remarkable recovery. Now, with a confirmed seat for 2026 alongside rookie Arvid Lindblad, the narrative has completely shifted, proving that sometimes a step back is necessary to move forward.

Why it matters:

Red Bull's driver program is notoriously ruthless, often discarding talent at the first sign of struggle. Lawson's story challenges that narrative, demonstrating that resilience and the ability to learn from failure can be more valuable than instant success. His survival and subsequent promotion over Yuki Tsunoda reveal a shift in how the team evaluates long-term potential versus immediate performance.

The details:

Lawson's promotion to Red Bull alongside Max Verstappen at the start of 2025 quickly turned into a nightmare. A crash in Australia was followed by a Chinese Grand Prix weekend where he qualified last for both the Sprint and the Grand Prix. The pressure of adapting to a car built around a triple world champion was immense.

• Helmut Marko's assessment was brutal but honest: "Liam qualified 20th twice. And that’s difficult to do worse than that."
• Recognizing a "downward spiral," Red Bull made the decisive call to return Lawson to Racing Bulls after just two rounds, a move seen by many as a career-ender.

The reset, however, allowed Lawson to rebuild. Initial results were poor—five races without a point—but the underlying pace was there. A breakthrough came in Austria with a strong sixth-place finish, marking a true inflection point.

• From there, consistency followed with points finishes in Belgium, Hungary, Azerbaijan, Brazil, and Qatar, amassing 38 points and restoring his credibility within the team.
• Lawson himself reflected that confidence returned "once I could build things step by step. That’s something you don’t get time for at the front."

The big picture:

This trajectory is precisely why Red Bull chose Lawson over Tsunoda for the 2026 Racing Bulls seat. Team principal Laurent Mekies repeatedly praised Lawson's technical feedback and maturity under pressure, qualities deemed essential for mentoring the highly-touted rookie Lindblad. Tsunoda's move to a reserve role, after replacing Lawson at Red Bull, suggests the team believes Lawson has a higher unrealized ceiling. In the high-stakes world of F1, where momentum is everything, Lawson's story is a rare case of a demotion serving as a salvation rather than a death sentence.

What's next:

Lawson enters 2026 with a secure seat and a point to prove. Partnered with the promising Lindblad, he will be expected to lead the Racing Bulls team and continue his development into a complete Grand Prix driver. His journey from the brink of elimination to a renewed contract stands as a testament to the importance of mental fortitude, proving that in Formula 1, survival often matters more than speed alone.