Lawson Voices Doubts on F1 Future After Red Bull Racing Setback

Liam Lawson has voiced doubts about achieving his F1 world champion dream with Red Bull, following a major career setback.### Why it matters:Lawson, initially poised for a 2025 Red Bull Racing seat, saw that prospect vanish. This highlights the ruthless pressure within Red Bull's driver program, where talents face rapid redirection and intense scrutiny, revealing the mental toll on F1's young drivers.### The setback:A Red Bull junior since 2019, Lawson impressed in limited AlphaTauri (now Racing Bulls) stints, earning an anticipated 2025 Red Bull Racing promotion. However, a brief evaluation alongside Max Verstappen proved challenging. He struggled for pace and points in Australia and China, leading to his swift replacement by Yuki Tsunoda for the 2025 RBR seat just 99 days after his dream role was confirmed. This mirrors Red Bull's tough approach with predecessors like Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon.### Lawson's perspective:Now back at Racing Bulls, Lawson aims to rebuild confidence. He admitted the Red Bull setback's impact at the Dutch Grand Prix, stating: "My dream... has been world champion, winning in F1... where I do that is not so clear as much as I thought it was." Red Bull’s program demands rapid adaptation to a car often tailored to Verstappen's unique style, a significant hurdle.### Recent race & future:At the Dutch Grand Prix, a collision with Carlos Sainz after a Safety Car restart cost Lawson potential points. Despite this, he praised teammate Isack Hadjar for Racing Bulls’ first podium since 2021. Hadjar’s success fuels 2026 Red Bull driver speculation. Lawson, expected to remain with Racing Bulls next season, must consistently deliver results. His 20 points from 13 races show promise, but his world championship path remains uncertain outside the Red Bull Racing fold. His focus is on maximizing every F1 opportunity to prove his worth.