Liam Lawson is struggling to adjust to Red Bull’s RB21 after joining the team to replace Sergio Perez beside four-time champion Max Verstappen’s team-mate.
After crashing out of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, the New Zealander qualified in P20 for both the sprint race and Grand Prix in China. However, as rumours swirl about the future of the Red Bull driver, with reports that he could be replaced as early as the Japanese Grand Prix by Racing Bulls driver Yuki Tsunoda, his radio exchanges during the Chinese GP have revealed the extent of the issues with the RB21.
Although Formula 1 is only two races into the 24-race season, Lawson is already feeling the pressure. Speaking to Sky Sports F1 during the race weekend at the Shanghai International Circuit, Lawson explained:
“I’ve got to get a handle of it. It was a messy session and had we not dealt with traffic and stuff like that, it might have been OK, but to be honest, it’s still not good enough to be having those issues. And that’s the reason that we get knocked out, we should be fast enough on our first lap.”
Chinese GP: Liam Lawson radio messages
Lap 12: Lawson was asked for a balance update to which he responded, “Just struggling with the bumps on entry, rear on exit.”
Lap 15: While attempting to hold off Lewis Hamilton from overtaking him, Lawson explained to his race engineer, Richard Wood, “Mate, I do not have the grip to fight this.”
Liam Lawson, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
Lap 18: Lawson reported that “exits are really poor on traction as well.”
Lap 23: Despite pitting to change from hard to medium tyres on Lap 18, the difficulties continued. Lawson explained, “I’m pushing through the fronts a little bit, and then I’m getting snaps later on the exit. Low-speed exit’s really poor traction as well.”
Lap 27: “I’m struggling so much at the front.”
Lap 34: Going with the two-stop strategy, Lawson pit for a new set of hard tyres on Lap 31, but by Lap 34 he was reporting similar issues, stating, “The fronts are really starting to drop, but honestly the rear on exit is so poor.”
Lap 38: “I have no balance, absolutely none.”
Lap 49: “Yeah, front is absolutely gone.”
Lap 54: Lawson reports that he “can’t turn the car at all.”
After the chequered flag, Wood commented, “Yeah, that was a bit of a slog today.” Lawson responded: “Dude, it lasted one lap, balance was good for one lap, and then it’s just, no fronts, and then I can’t get on power.”
