Lawson’s Rise and Fall: Do Two Wrongs Make It Right?

At the tender age of 23, Liam Lawson’s Formula 1 dream accelerated from the relatively lowly position of a Red Bull reserve driver to the pinnacle position of number 2 driver for Red Bull Racing. However, after struggling in the first two races of the season, crashing and poor qualifying position, his career as a Red Bull Racing driver came to a crashing finish, at least for now.

Lawson was dropped after two tough races / Credit: Getty Images

Whilst Lawson was retained within the Red Bull family, he fell back into position as the secondary driver for the sister Visa Cash App Racing Bull (VCARB) team being overtaken by Yuki Tsunoda who moved to occupy Lawson’s previous position at Red Bull Racing.

Although known for its ruthless judgement of a driver’s skill, Lawson’s demotion after just two races shocked both the fans and drivers alike, as few expected Red Bull, to make such a bold switch so early in the season.

Although such a swift decision is incredibly rare in Formula 1, where drivers typically have more time to prove themselves before facing drastic changes, it served as a wake-up call to aspiring Formula 1 drivers that talent alone is not sufficient to retaining a drivers position in a Formula 1 team.

Lawson’s rise through the ranks of motorsport has been marked by steady progression, adaptability, and moments of standout brilliance. Hailing from New Zealand, Lawson made his name early in karting before moving up the single-seater ladder. He impressed in multiple junior categories, including FIA Formula 3 and Formula 2, where he consistently competed with top-tier talent. In the second half of the 2023 Formula 1 season, Lawson was called up to replace the injured Daniel Ricciardo at Alphatauri (now VCARB). In just five races, Lawson impressed fans and pundits alike with his composure under pressure. He notably scored points at the Singapore Grand Prix, placing 9th, ahead of his more experienced teammate, Yuki Tsunoda. This sparking serious conversations about a permanent spot on the grid. Despite being passed over for a full-time seat in 2024, Lawson remained a key part of Red Bull’s future plans, continuing to perform in the Japan Super Formula and maintaining his role as reserve for Red Bull Racing. When Alphatauri’s principal driver, Daniel Ricciardo, began struggling in the latter half of the 2024 season, Lawson was again called upon to fill in his slot for the last six races.

His performances at Alphatauri, evidently impressed the Red Bull bosses sufficiently to result in their surprising decision to shake up its 2025 driver line-up by, promoting Lawson, in preference to the more experienced Tsunoda, to become the main team partner of Max Verstappen. This was seen by many as both a reward for his persistence and a bold bet on his potential.

However, his lack of experience was cited as a concern by critics, and many, including, yours truly, us here at Chicane Chatter (What Do You Need to Become a Driver at Red Bull? Have 87 Races or Be Named Liam Lawson?) who doubted that this was the best move for a rookie who would be completing his first full Formula 1 season competing alongside one of the sports’ strongest drivers – Max Verstappen. Placing a newcomer alongside a triple world champion in one of the most scrutinized teams on the grid was always going to be a trial by fire, providing Lawson with zero margin for error.

Ultimately, the immense pressure and limited time to adapt proved too much, and Lawson was unable to deliver the results Red Bull Racing demanded, leading to his swift public demotion before he had a real chance to find his footing.

It was at the Chinese Grand Prix that rumours about Lawson’s time at Red Bull Racing coming to an abrupt halt began spreading throughout the paddock.

The worst kept secret in Formula 1 eventually became official when Red Bull Racing made the formal announcement, 4 days after the Chinese Grand Prix.

It seems that the only person who was surprised and “shocked” by Red Bull Racing’s unexpected decision was, Liam Lawson!

Red Bull’s decision to drop Lawson after just two races was as surgical as it was controversial.

Officially, the team cited the need for immediate results, calling it "a purely sporting decision", as well as team principal Horner insisting that there was a “duty of care to protect and develop” Lawson, fearing that he may be mentally struggling after the first two races, and being in a team with far less pressure would help him regain his footing.

The conversation moved from Lawson’s potential to his inexperience, with Horner admitting the Red Bull management had made a mistake in promoting the rookie driver, stating “we were asking too much of him too soon” and the Red Bull Racing car being “challenging to drive”, which by the way Lawson himself had admitted to in December 2024.

Tsunoda’s sudden promotion to Red Bull Racing came as a dramatic twist, especially given that he was initially overlooked for the seat despite outperforming teammates, including Lawson, and showing steady growth at the sister team, VCARB.

Many believed his long-standing ties to Honda, who are set to part ways with Red Bull at the end of 2025, played a role in his earlier exclusion from the main team. Given Honda’s planned alignment with Aston Martin for the future, Red Bull appeared to distance itself from Tsunoda, favouring Lawson as part of their internal driver program.

However, as Lawson struggled, Tsunoda’s case strengthened, and Red Bull seized the opportunity to swap the two drivers, justifying the decision as a move to optimise their chances in the Constructors’ Championship. Tsunoda’s step into the spotlight, with a car able to clinch victory together with a teammate who sets the standard for excellence in modern Formula 1, has led to heightened expectations of the team.

The challenge for Tsunoda is immense; prove that he belongs in a top team, shake off the “Honda protégé” label and deliver consistent results in the shadow of a three-time world champion.

Liam Lawson’s abrupt demotion has not only halted the momentum of his Formula 1 ascent, but may have dealt a blow to his confidence at a critical juncture in his development. Although Horner claimed that the drop was to help Lawson regain confidence, it seems harsh and unfair, and will surely come as a blow to the Kiwi, who claimed that he did not see the drop coming.

Whilst Lawson remained professional in his response—stating he was focused on improving and learning with VCARB—it’s hard to ignore the psychological toll such a high-profile setback may have caused. The publicly humiliating nature of the decision, combined with Red Bull’s shifting justifications, cast doubt on the team’s faith in him, despite earlier praise and apparent commitment to his growth.

Critics have questioned how can aspiring drivers be expected to learn and adapt effectively whilst under the constant pressure of immediate performance underlined with a threat of being replaced. This instability risks shaking the very foundation of Lawson’s Formula 1 future, making it harder for him to settle, perform, and prove himself—especially now with the label of a “demoted” driver shadowing him.

Red Bull’s handling of the Lawson situation has ignited widespread frustration and scepticism, both from fans and within the Formula 1 community, even three-time world champion teammates.

The decision to remove him from the main team after just two races felt abrupt and ruthless, especially given the high-pressure circumstances of his promotion. For many observers, it echoed a familiar pattern in Red Bull’s history—one where a young driver is rapidly promoted and just as quickly discarded if they fail to deliver immediate results.

Fans quickly voiced their discontent across social media platforms, arguing that Lawson wasn’t given a fair opportunity to adjust or prove himself.

The second Red Bull seat has become infamous in Formula 1—a position often seen less as a promotion and more as a poisoned chalice. Since Daniel Ricciardo’s departure in 2018, a revolving cast of talented drivers has struggled to match Max Verstappen’s dominance, with each facing intense scrutiny and often premature demotions. From Pierre Gasly to Alex Albon and now Liam Lawson, the seat has earned a reputation as a career trap, where expectations are sky-high and patience is in short supply. The so-called “curse” reflects more than just performance gaps—it underscores the brutal reality of competing alongside one of the sport’s greatest drivers in one of its most unforgiving teams.

The backlash has raised uncomfortable questions about the true nature of Red Bull’s junior program. Once hailed as the gold standard for identifying and nurturing young talent, the program is now increasingly viewed as a revolving door where only instant success is rewarded. Internally, there have been murmurs of discontent, with reports suggesting that even within the Red Bull structure, some feel the decision to demote Lawson was premature and damaging to wider team morale. There's growing concern that the pressure cooker environment is not only affecting driver performance, but also eroding trust among those still in the development pipeline.

For emerging talents watching from the side lines—whether in Formula 2, Super Formula, or Red Bull’s own feeder system—the message sent by Lawson’s treatment is clear: one or two poor weekends could end your shot at the top. This fear may discourage open communication, risk-taking, and confidence—all essential qualities in a developing driver. Furthermore, it risks damaging the team’s ability to attract and retain promising young racers. Why commit to a system that, based on past history, will most likely discard you before you've truly found your feet?

In the long run, this incident may have a negative ripple effect on the reputation of Red Bull’s driver development program. While the team continues to dominate on the track thanks to Max Verstappen, the question lingers, is short term success at all costs worth undermining the very program designed to sustain it in the long term?

Lawson’s rapid rise and equally swift fall from the Red Bull Racing seat serves as a stark reminder of the unforgiving nature of Formula 1—especially within a team that demands nothing less than perfection. What began as a story of opportunity and belief in young talent quickly turned into yet another chapter in Red Bull Racing’s long history of high-pressure expectations and ruthless decision-making.

Whilst Lawson remains on the grid with VCARB, any dent in his confidence and harsh public nature of his demotion could have lasting effects on his future career trajectory.

For Red Bull, the move may yield short-term results, but it also risks further damaging the credibility of their driver development program and alienating the very talents they aim to nurture.

Lawson’s recent treatment at Red Bull Racing raises numerous questions;

1.      Are Red Bull Racing committed and willing to be sufficiently patient to build future champions?

2.      Is Red Bull Racing the best team for aspiring drivers to develop their talents in pursuance of a career as a driver in Formula 1?

Will Lawson be able to overcome this expeirience to become a standout Formula 1 driver or will it consign him to that of a journey man?

• Standout Driver
• Journey Man