Liam Lawson’s Struggles in the Red Bull Team

Liam Lawson, the young New Zealander racing for Red Bull, faced another setback in qualifying sessions. Despite his teammate Max Verstappen securing a fourth position with the challenging Red Bull vehicle, Lawson ended up at the bottom of the grid. In a post-qualifying press conference, Lawson expressed his frustration, stating, “With time it’ll come, but I just don’t have time.”

Red Bull’s Second Seat: A Chequered History

Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s advisor, responded to Lawson’s words ominously, saying, “He’s right.” Marko further explained that Lawson’s performance was disappointing and that the team would need to analyze the situation thoroughly. He emphasized that the decision is based solely on performance.

Verstappen offered support for his teammate, expressing confidence in Lawson’s potential. He noted that Lawson performed similarly to Yuki Tsunoda during their time at Racing Bulls, suggesting that the difficulty of driving the RB21 could be a factor in Lawson’s current struggles.

The Impact of Red Bull’s Junior Program and Tsunoda’s Performance

Marko, however, was not entirely convinced by this explanation. He acknowledged Tsunoda’s impressive performance in the first race and sprint race, stating that he made minimal mistakes. More impressively, Hadjar, who was racing for the first time at the circuit, managed to secure seventh place. This, according to Marko, is a testament to the effectiveness of Red Bull’s junior program and the competitiveness of the Racing Bulls car.

When asked if Tsunoda could continue to be overlooked if current trends persist, Marko replied, “Let’s discuss when it happens.” He emphasized that Tsunoda is focusing on his own performance and doing well.