Liam Lawson has confirmed his relationship with Red Bull remains "quite strong" despite his early-season demotion from the main team back to Racing Bulls. After initially securing a full-time F1 seat with Red Bull alongside Max Verstappen for the current campaign, Lawson's tenure was brief, leading to his return to the sister squad.
Why it matters
Lawson's unexpected demotion, following just two challenging races in Australia and China, sparked significant criticism towards Red Bull, given the minimal time he had to adapt to a notoriously demanding seat. His recent resurgence in form at Racing Bulls, scoring points in four of the last seven races, highlights his resilience and talent.
The big picture
Lawson was initially chosen over Yuki Tsunoda as Sergio Perez's replacement. After his demotion, he found himself briefly outperformed by rookie Isack Hadjar in Racing Bulls. However, a period of readjustment has seen Lawson rediscover his speed, narrowing the pace gap to his teammate.
The details
- Lawson made 11 appearances for the Red Bull sister team across 2023 and 2024.
- His full-time Red Bull F1 seat was short-lived, with Yuki Tsunoda replacing him after two races.
- Lawson acknowledges that switching back to Racing Bulls required adjustment, as his initial preparations were with the Red Bull car.
- He emphasized that his long-standing relationships with the engineering teams at both Red Bull and Racing Bulls, built over six to seven years in the Red Bull program, remained robust.
- Lawson feels more accustomed to working with Racing Bulls in F1 due to his previous time in their car.
What's next
Lawson's improved performance positions him strongly for future opportunities, especially as Red Bull evaluates its driver options for next year, potentially looking for a replacement for the struggling Tsunoda. His ability to thrive back in the Racing Bulls environment underscores his potential for a top-tier F1 drive.