Red Bull doesn’t learn from its mistakes, Lawson pays the price
In an interview with the Skysports channel, Red Bull team manager Christian Horner admits that Liam Lawson's transfer to Red Bull took place prematurely, and that this mistake is not a first.
Has Liam Lawson’s promotion at Red Bull come too soon? Before being tasked with the complex mission of racing alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull, the New Zealand driver had only participated in eleven Formula 1 races as a substitute driver. Lawson did not succeed, which led to his demotion after just two races with the main team.
Why a transfer so early?
« Because everything we saw in China and Australia affected Liam too much. He is a talented driver and surely he would have shown us great things before the summer break, but we don’t have all that time. » This is what Christian Horner stated, with a closed expression and a weary air. « I also think that too much was asked of him too soon. » He then admitted this error in judgment, while emphasizing that Liam has a lot of talent and it would be a shame to waste it by exhausting him prematurely.
The director of Red Bull admitted that it was not the easiest decision, but necessary: « Of course, it’s horrible to do this and in such a quick manner, because you kill a driver’s dreams and ambition. »
Regarding the cursed seat, Horner admits they have a tendency to repeat the mistake of hiring young talents too early. The problem is that Red Bull doesn’t seem to have learned from its mistakes, as Lawson’s failure is not the first of its kind. Gasly stayed for six months before swapping places with Albon, who himself had only completed one semester in Formula 1 before his arrival at Red Bull, and then completely lost his spot in Formula 1 after a year and a half. Especially at Red Bull Racing, we may have recruited some juniors too early, explains Horner.
« We still have a lot of work to do with the car, and having experienced drivers is better », he added. For him and the team, it was clear that Liam was struggling a lot with the car, especially since the engineers had approached him worried about how things were unfolding. The repositioning of Lawson with Racing Bulls therefore appears to be a wise decision. According to the Briton, « he will be less stressed and will be able to continue learning at his own pace. » The door at Red Bull remains open for Lawson in the future, Horner emphasized.
Will Yuki do better?
Yuki Tsunoda is one of the drivers under Red Bull’s management who gained experience before securing a racing seat.
“We know Yuki quite well now, we know his skills and he will be a valuable asset for the development of the car,” said Horner.
Will Tsunoda’s future still be in the RB seat? The Japanese driver being under contract with the team until the end of 2025, Horner provides a semblance of an answer: « He stays with us, although for now, we remain focused on the present and this season. It’s up to him to make the most of it. »
