Liam Lawson struggled immensely throughout the opening two rounds of the world championship alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull, leading to Yuki Tsunoda getting an opportunity at the F1 Japanese GP.
The New Zealander failed to start from the grid in both Australia, China, and the Sprint in Shanghai as Lawson lacked confidence alongside the four-time world champion.
He didn’t make it out of Q1 and floundered over a Grand Prix distance, looking a long way from breaking into the top 10 while Verstappen competed at the front.
The Red Bull programme is notoriously difficult for young drivers to navigate as they are under scrutiny at every race weekend before making the jump to Formula 1.
A group of former Red Bull juniors now racing outside the Austrian teams family have had their say on Red Bull dropping Lawson and promoting Yuki Tsunoda.
Jack Doohan reaffirms Liam Lawson is “extremely talented” ahead of F1 Japanese GP
Jack Doohan has had his own issues at Alpine this season as the Australian is under pressure from the French team’s reserve driver, Franco Colapinto.
The Alpine driver said in a print media session ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix that Lawson could be more competitive at Racing Bulls than the main team.
“I think he’s an extremely, extremely talented driver. For one reason or another, he had a very hard time. But again, only two races, so it’s a shame. But I think, to be honest, it’s going to be more of a threat at RB than it potentially was at Red Bull.”
As Lawson looks to rebuild his career, Tsunoda has been given an opportunity to race at the front although he’s under immediate pressure at his home race.
The Japanese driver is being thrown into a new team ahead of a triple header without the benefit of pe season testing in Bahrain.
Former Red Bull driver Alex Albon is pleased to see the 24-year-old get the chance to compete alongside Verstappen.
“For Yuki, what I’m happy about is I think he’s always wanted this seat. He’s been licking his lips at the opportunity for it. He’s got it now.
“I think he’s got the right mentality to go into it. You can’t be fearing it. You have to own it, and you have to be confident and have to go into it with that belief in yourself. I think, in many ways, things are OK. It’s not life and death.”
Carlos Sainz: “It’s the hard life of Formula 1”
Carlos Sainz has had his fair share of knocks at the highest level of motorsport including his shock dismissal from Ferrari last year to make space for the incoming Lewis Hamilton.
The Williams driver was nonplussed by Red Bull dropping Lawson as the Austrian teams academy is still a brutal programme.
“It’s the hard life of Formula 1. I think it’s nothing new or nothing that we haven’t seen before. Unfortunately in this sport, it only counts the last two or three races that you do.
“It’s just a hard sport, probably Red Bull even harder, even tougher, because of the way that programme is being run and the way it works, but nothing new. When you’re there, you know that’s what’s waiting for you.”
Pierre Gasly had a very difficult tenure at Red Bull as he got demoted from the main team midway through his first season with them in 2019.
The Frenchman explained he can relate to the emotions Lawson is dealing with and has no doubts he and Tsunoda will excel.
“I can obviously relate to some things — I wish Yuki all the best. I think it’s very difficult to judge anything from the outside.
“Only Liam can know his situation and know all the details from it and you just got to respect that. I’ve got no doubts both of them are going to do really well.”
