JUST IN :Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has issued a response to questions over the outfit’s underperforming driver… Read more
Christian Horner Responds to Speculation Over Liam Lawson’s Struggles
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has addressed growing speculation regarding Liam Lawson’s performance after a difficult start to the season. The young New Zealander was promoted to Red Bull’s senior team at the end of 2024, joining Max Verstappen after spending time with the junior outfit.
Lawson initially stepped in as a substitute for Daniel Ricciardo at RB when the Australian was injured, later securing a full-time seat when the team decided to drop Ricciardo midway through last season. His performances alongside Yuki Tsunoda were seen as an audition for a potential full-time Red Bull seat, and Horner’s decision to promote him directly to the senior team raised eyebrows in the paddock.
Following the latest race, Horner spoke to Sky F1, addressing rumors that Red Bull is considering swapping Lawson and Tsunoda ahead of the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix. These speculations have been fueled by Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko, who has suggested that a meeting is scheduled to discuss the team’s current struggles. However, Horner did not outright deny the possibility of changes.
“There’s always speculation in the paddock,” Horner said. “We’ve just finished the race here, and we’ll take the data, analyze it, and see what we can learn.”
When asked specifically about Marko’s claims regarding a scheduled meeting, Horner downplayed the reports. “Nothing specific has been planned,” he stated.
Lawson has had a tough start to the season, struggling to match expectations. In China, Red Bull opted to take him out of parc fermé conditions to make significant setup changes, hoping to help him find confidence in the car.
“Liam is struggling with confidence in the car at the moment,” Horner admitted. “That’s why we made those changes today, to try and give him a more confidence-inspiring setup. We managed to gather 56 laps of useful data, and we’ll analyze that to support him as best as we can.”
Meanwhile, Tsunoda, now in his fifth season with Red Bull’s junior team, has impressed so far this year despite a disappointing race in China. While he finished behind Lawson in Shanghai—his first defeat to the Kiwi this season—his poor result was largely due to strategy issues and unexpected front wing damage rather than his own mistakes.
Tsunoda has been consistently strong in 2024, making his presence known within the Red Bull camp. However, Lawson’s biggest concern has been his qualifying performances. The 23-year-old has exited in Q1 in every race so far, starting from the back of the grid in both the sprint and the main event in China.
With both drivers failing to score points in Shanghai, pressure is mounting on Red Bull to evaluate their lineup. While no official decisions have been made, speculation regarding a potential swap between Lawson and Tsunoda remains alive as the team looks ahead to Japan.
