Liam Lawson`s aspiration of driving for Red Bull in Formula 1 quickly transformed from a “dream” into a harsh reality. Within a mere 99 days, the 22-year-old became the latest in a line of talented drivers who struggled to perform alongside Max Verstappen and were subsequently dropped by the team.
In a surprising move, Yuki Tsunoda, previously passed over for Lawson in December, is set to become Verstappen`s new teammate. This will be Verstappen`s third teammate in just four races, starting from the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix.
This raises critical questions: What led to this situation? Where did Lawson`s promising opportunity falter?
We delve into Lawson`s brief and ill-fated period with Red Bull, from his initial promotion to his swift return to Racing Bulls, examining the key moments that defined his short stint.
Day 1: December 19, 2024, marked a significant turning point. Just 11 days after the end of the season with Racing Bulls and with only 11 F1 races of experience, Lawson was officially announced as Sergio Pérez`s replacement at Red Bull, outperforming Tsunoda for the coveted seat. Speaking to ESPN, a visibly thrilled Lawson described the move as a “dream,” while acknowledging the substantial challenges ahead.
“It`s arguably the most demanding environment, but it also presents the greatest rewards,” he stated. “There`s no better benchmark to learn from and compete with than Verstappen.”
Lawson added, “My ambition is to win world championships, and that`s my purpose here. I aim to reach the level required to contend for championships as quickly as possible, starting next year.”
Day 37: As the 2025 season approached, Lawson visited Red Bull`s headquarters in Milton Keynes for the first time as a team driver. He underwent a seat fitting to prepare for his rookie season and expressed his enthusiasm: “It`s fantastic to be surrounded by familiar faces I`ve worked with for years. Becoming an official driver is a truly exciting step.”
Day 56: Lawson experienced his first on-track action for 2025, driving Red Bull`s RB19, a car recognized as one of the most dominant in Formula 1 history, during a private test in Jerez, Spain.
Day 63: The season launch took place in London`s O2 Arena, a glamorous event where Red Bull and all other teams unveiled their new liveries. Lawson, speaking to ESPN, recognized the impending pressure and noted the initial races would be especially challenging due to his lack of experience at those circuits.
“Entering a season like this is incredibly exciting,” he commented. “However, I`m fully aware of the immense pressure and the difficulty, especially starting the year at tracks where I`ve never raced before.”
He clarified his objectives for 2025: “I`m not setting rigid timelines. My goal isn`t to win within a specific number of races, or even necessarily this season. But my ultimate aim is clear – to win races and ultimately a world championship. That`s what I`m striving for.”
Day 70: Lawson began his and Red Bull`s preseason testing in Bahrain, though a spin briefly interrupted his morning session. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner remained optimistic, stating, “Liam has had a positive first official session with us and has adapted well so far.”
Lawson added, “It`s difficult to gauge our pace at this stage, but the car feels responsive and comfortable to drive.”
Day 71: Lawson was scheduled for a full day of testing on the second of three days, but faced further challenges. Unexpected rain in the morning and reliability problems in the afternoon limited his track time. He concluded the Bahrain test with only 149 laps, fewer than most drivers, as he prepared to head to Australia.
Despite the limited running, Lawson`s performance was praised by Red Bull. Technical director Pierre Wache noted, “Liam responded well today, and his feedback closely mirrored Max`s.”
Day 86: The Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne highlighted Lawson`s early struggles. He finished 16th and 17th in the initial practice sessions, placing him on the defensive for the rest of the weekend.
Day 87: Lawson`s difficulties deepened. A power issue eliminated his final practice session, and he qualified in 18th place. McLaren CEO Zak Brown even publicly questioned Red Bull`s driver selection, suggesting Tsunoda was more deserving of the Red Bull seat, especially after Tsunoda`s impressive fifth-place qualifying for Racing Bulls.
“Yuki has performed exceptionally well, and based on his performance, he probably should be in the Red Bull,” Brown told Sky Sports. “However, Red Bull often makes unconventional driver decisions.”
Day 88: Lawson`s first race for Red Bull began from the pit lane due to car setup changes. He struggled to gain positions during the race and ultimately spun out in rainy conditions after a risky tire strategy decision by the team.
Horner, still supportive, commented, “It`s hard to fault him for the spin. A positive takeaway is that on dry tires, he actually set the second-fastest lap of the race, a 22.9 compared to Max`s 23.0 and Lando`s 22.1.”
“Melbourne wasn`t representative of his true potential.”
Day 92: Heading into the Chinese Grand Prix, Lawson displayed a determined attitude. Responding to Brown`s comments, he stated, “I genuinely don`t care what Zak says. I haven`t spoken to him, and I don`t intend to.” He also dismissed the notion that he was in a downward spiral.
“It`s crucial to have a strong weekend, as that`s our objective here,” he said. “I don`t believe one race can trigger a spiral, but we all maintain high expectations.”
Day 93: Lawson finished 18th in practice the following day and qualified last in the sprint qualifying after a mistake on his crucial lap, contrasting sharply with Verstappen`s second place. Horner reiterated, “We believe in his capability; he just needs more time.” However, paddock rumors of his potential replacement were already circulating.
Day 94: Lawson improved to 14th in the sprint race, a result he still deemed “unacceptable.” This was followed by another 20th-place qualification.
Afterwards, Lawson attributed his struggles to needing “time,” but added, “Unfortunately, time is something I don`t really have.”
Meanwhile, Tsunoda openly addressed the possibility of replacing Lawson in Japan, expressing his readiness: “100% [ready],” Tsunoda affirmed. “I mean, the car is faster.”
Day 95: Lawson finished 12th in the Chinese Grand Prix, but this point-less finish obscured underlying issues. He was over a minute behind Verstappen and only gained positions due to post-race penalties to other drivers. Horner notably avoided confirming Lawson`s drive for the upcoming Japan race, signaling his precarious position.
“You can see the current situation is very challenging for him,” Horner acknowledged, adding that Red Bull couldn`t effectively compete against rivals “one-legged.”
Lawson himself was realistic, stating, “I`m not naive. I understand that my performance determines my place here, and if I`m not performing, I won`t remain.”
Day 99: Following intense speculation after the Chinese GP, Lawson`s demotion was officially announced. Red Bull cited a “purely sporting decision” aimed at improving the car`s performance.
“We acknowledge significant development is needed for the RB21, and Yuki`s experience will be invaluable in helping us advance the current car,” Horner concluded.
Rupert Caldwell 
Tristan Blackwood