Martin Brundle highlights key Liam Lawson strength to.....

Martin Brundle highlights key Liam Lawson strength to….. read more

Liam Lawson is set to make his first race for Red Bull at the upcoming Australian Grand Prix, despite having only 11 F1 starts under his belt. Red Bull has been impressed with how quickly Lawson has adapted to Formula 1, even though his performance last season at AlphaTauri couldn’t consistently surpass that of teammate Yuki Tsunoda. Lawson’s aggressive on-track approach has been noted, as he was not afraid to defend hard against high-profile drivers like Fernando Alonso and Sergio Perez.

While Lawson’s potential is evident, his 2025 season with Red Bull is expected to be challenging, especially with Max Verstappen as his teammate. Verstappen’s dominance in the team, where he has outperformed previous teammates like Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon, has led to quick changes when his teammates failed to match his performance. Even though Perez had a longer stint with the team, his form often dipped after promising starts, a trend Lawson will need to avoid. Martin Brundle, reflecting on Lawson’s strength, said that the young driver has the mental fortitude to cope with Verstappen’s dominance. Brundle suggested that if Lawson can finish races with Verstappen’s car still in his sights, he would have done an excellent job.

Meanwhile, Jack Doohan, who is making his F1 debut with Alpine, also faces a tough challenge. Alpine has brought in Franco Colapinto as their test and reserve driver, which has raised the pressure on Doohan. Colapinto’s talents have been highly praised by former F1 boss Flavio Briatore, and many speculate that Doohan’s seat could be at risk if Colapinto impresses. Although Alpine has expressed full support for Doohan, there are concerns that it may be only a matter of time before Colapinto takes over his place.

Looking at other new F1 drivers for 2025, Brundle highlighted several promising talents. Ollie Bearman is expected to be exciting to watch, while Bortoleto, a real talent, could face difficulties showing his potential in the Sauber team. Jack Doohan, despite earning his opportunity with Alpine, will likely feel the pressure from Colapinto and other competitors within the team. Paul Aron, who is also part of Alpine, adds to the competition. For Hadjar, Brundle emphasized the importance of keeping a cooler head and managing his speed effectively.