Member-only story
Red Bull’s Driver Gamble Is Already Unravelling — And Liam Lawson Is Feeling the Heat
Red Bull made a bold call in promoting Liam Lawson. Two races in, they’re already wondering if it was a mistake. The warning signs? They were there all along.
Lawson’s F1 Baptism Becomes a Firestorm
Liam Lawson knew the challenge. Replacing Sergio Pérez at Red Bull meant more than just stepping into a top-tier car — it meant surviving the most high-pressure seat in modern Formula 1. Still, few expected the cracks to show quite this early.
After just two races in 2025, Lawson’s future with the team is already in question. A crash in Australia, a disastrous weekend in China, and whispers within the paddock about possible replacements have rapidly turned a career-making opportunity into a potential career-defining crisis.
It’s brutal. It’s Red Bull. And it’s not new.
From High Potential to Immediate Pressure
When Red Bull parted ways with Pérez at the end of 2024, they weren’t flooded with elite options. Yuki Tsunoda remained inconsistent, Daniel Ricciardo was recovering from injury and out of rhythm, and Isack Hadjar was…
