Liam Lawson’s future at Red Bull is in doubt after a very unsatisfactory start to the championship; the team has decided to make an assessment of his performance between the Japanese and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix, which could determine whether or not he will continue as a member of the team. The comparison of the New Zealander with Sergio ‘Checo’ Pérez and the growing pressure within the team are putting the 21-year-old driver in a very complex situation.
Red Bull puts Lawson to the test
Helmut Marko, who acts as a consultant for Red Bull, has made it public that the evaluation of Lawson will take place between the third and fifth races of the season, that is to say, in Japan, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. These tracks, unlike those of Australia and China, are familiar to the driver, which may give a better reference point for his true potential.
Lawson’s start with Red Bull has become one of the most difficult in F1 in recent memory. In Australia he was eliminated in the first qualifying round. In the race he ended up in the barriers after losing control of the car in wet conditions. It was a debut that left many wondering if he was the right choice to replace Checo Pérez.
Marko has been clear on the matter: “He wanted to show what he could do, but things went wrong. Now we must let him relax and evaluate his performance in the first five races.”
Lawson in the spotlight
The figures are not on the side of Lawson, who has become the first driver not to finish his first race with Red Bull after his retirement in Australia. Furthermore, his qualifying was one of the worst by a debutant and doubts were raised about his ability to compete at the required level.
At the same time, Yuki Tsunoda, who has also been a candidate for Lawson’s seat, has performed well in the Racing Bulls, which could also aggravate the pressure created by the New Zealander; if the performance data does not improve in the following races, Red Bull could reconsider the decision taken.
The comparison with Checo Pérez has become inevitable; unlike the Mexican, who had to justify his performances at Red Bull one by one, in Lawson’s case he is allowed a margin of adaptation, although in qualifying he has been more than a second behind Max Verstappen. The question now is how long will the team remain patient?
Ted Kravitz, British reporter for Sky Sports F1, also pointed this out and remembered Checo Pérez: “Let’s be fair to him, because he was in a difficult situation with no preparation in the three free practice sessions. I wrote here in my notebook: ‘Somewhere in Guadalajara, Mexico, a man named Sergio is laughing his head off’. I think it’s unfair, but you have to bear in mind that Sergio might feel he could have done better than P18.”
Pressure mounts Lawson
Christian Horner, the team principal, has defended Lawson, arguing that a lack of experience in Melbourne was key to a poor result. “Losing Practice 3 on an unfamiliar track put him at a disadvantage,” Horner said. This discourse contrasts with that applied to Checo Pérez in his last campaign; while the Mexican was told that he should be at the level of Verstappen in every grand prix, Lawson, on the other hand, is allowed to adapt. This difference in approach has not gone unnoticed in the paddock.
With each grand prix, with each passing race, Lawson’s room for maneuver is narrowing. In fact, if things don’t improve in some way in Japan, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, Red Bull could rethink its driver lineup. Formula 1 is a world of decisions in which mistakes are not forgiven. Will Lawson be able to show that he deserves to be on the team, despite everything? We will know the answer in the coming weeks.