Liam Lawson's Red Bull Future in Jeopardy After Disastrous Start
Liam Lawson’s start to the 2025 Formula 1 season has been nothing short of a nightmare, and it’s already raising serious questions about his future with Red Bull. The young driver, who was given a golden opportunity to replace Sergio Perez over the winter, was expected to challenge alongside Max Verstappen and strengthen Red Bull’s constructors' championship campaign. However, things have gone downhill fast, and now, his seat may already be at risk.
Lawson’s results so far have been shocking, to say the least. He finished 18th in qualifying at the Australian Grand Prix and then endured back-to-back last-place finishes in China—both in sprint and Grand Prix qualifying. To put it bluntly, this is the worst start for any Red Bull driver in history. The team’s leadership is reportedly already questioning whether he has what it takes to deliver the performance they need.
It’s not just about finishing positions—it’s about expectations. Red Bull isn’t just another midfield team. They demand excellence, and when you’re driving one of the fastest cars on the grid, scraping through races in the lower half isn’t acceptable. Lawson himself acknowledged this after managing only 14th place in the Chinese Grand Prix sprint, saying, “I'm in a Red Bull—finishing 14th, it's not really acceptable.”
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Despite the concerning start, the team isn’t pulling the trigger just yet. However, the upcoming race in Japan is being viewed as a critical moment for Lawson. Unlike Australia and China, Suzuka is a track he knows well from his Super Formula days. That means the excuse of being unfamiliar with the circuit won’t hold up. If he can’t show significant improvement there, Red Bull could be forced to make a tough decision.
One of the biggest concerns within the team is that there’s no clear reason why Lawson is struggling so much. The car is fast—Max Verstappen is proving that. Yet, for some reason, Lawson just isn’t clicking with it. Even Red Bull’s motorsport advisor, Helmut Marko, hinted that results will ultimately dictate Lawson’s fate, stating, “F1 is a performance sport, and in the end, that’s what counts.”
Lawson himself understands the urgency of the situation. Speaking after his latest disappointing result in China, he admitted, “It’s hard, you know? It’s hard to drive, it’s hard to get it in that window. And I’d love to say that with time, obviously, that will come. I just don’t really have the time to do that.”
If Red Bull does decide to make a change, they have options. The most logical move would be to swap Lawson with Racing Bulls driver Yuki Tsunoda, who has had a strong start to the season. In fact, Tsunoda has openly said he would take the Red Bull seat if given the chance. When asked if he’d make the switch as early as Japan, he confidently responded, “Yeah 100%, the car is faster.”
So, what’s next for Liam Lawson? It all comes down to his performance in Japan. If he can pull off a strong showing at Suzuka, he may buy himself more time. But if things don’t improve, Red Bull may have no choice but to act. One thing is for sure—time is running out, and the pressure is higher than ever.
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