BREAKING: Red Bull’s Harsh Sergio Perez Lesson Seals…read more
BREAKING: Red Bull’s Harsh Sergio Perez Lesson Seals…read more
Red Bull’s choice to drop Liam Lawson after just two races is reportedly influenced by lessons learned from Sergio Perez’s time with the team.
On Thursday morning, Red Bull confirmed that Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda would swap seats at the Japanese Grand Prix. Lawson struggled in his first two races with the senior team, failing to score any points. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen remains in the title fight, currently sitting second in the drivers’ standings, eight points behind McLaren’s Lando Norris.
While Lawson now has a chance to rebuild his career at Racing Bulls, his hopes of securing a future seat with a top-tier team have taken a major hit.
Red Bull’s Swift Response After Perez’s Struggles
Reports suggest Red Bull’s decision was shaped by their experience with Perez, who remained with the team for four seasons despite inconsistent performances.
Perez finished a disappointing eighth in the 2024 drivers’ championship, contributing to Red Bull’s fall to third in the constructors’ standings behind McLaren and Ferrari. Despite his struggles, the team extended his contract at the Monaco Grand Prix, hoping stability would help him improve. However, his form worsened, and he failed to secure another podium.
Although Red Bull considered replacing Perez with Daniel Ricciardo mid-season, they ultimately decided against it. Instead, Lawson was brought in to replace Ricciardo at Racing Bulls after the Singapore Grand Prix.
According to F1 journalist Lawrence Barretto, Red Bull was determined not to repeat past mistakes by holding onto an underperforming driver for too long.
“Sources say the shareholders, plus Team Principal Christian Horner and Red Bull Motorsport Adviser Helmut Marko, agreed unanimously that Lawson should go back to Racing Bulls,” Barretto reported.
Red Bull recognized that Lawson had lost confidence, and learning from their experience with Perez opted for a decisive approach. However, the team has not ruled out the possibility of giving Lawson another chance in the future if he proves himself at Racing Bulls.
