Liam Lawson has had a torrid start to the 2025 Formula 1 season. After just two races, he was ousted by Red Bull and sent back to Racing Bulls.
The New Zealander was chosen to replace Sergio Perez at the Milton Keynes-based outfit after impressing at the junior team in 2024. Despite having less experience than his teammate Yuki Tsunoda, the team felt Lawson had a higher ceiling and was more equipped to face Max Verstappen.
However, the 23-year-old would become the next to suffer the ‘curse of the second Red Bull seat.’ No driver has been able to match the performances of Verstappen with the car’s sensitive setup – Lawson arguably suffered the worst.
In the opening two races of 2025, he was eliminated in Q1 in every qualifying session, starting last twice in Shanghai. After failing to score points in either race, Red Bull dropped Lawson back to Racing Bulls, giving Tsunoda his seat.
| RACE WEEKEND | MAX VERSTAPPEN WINS | RED BULL 2ND DRIVER POINTS |
| 2024 Sao Paulo GP | 1 | 1 |
| 2024 Las Vegas GP | 0 | 1 |
| 2024 Qatar GP | 1 | 0 |
| 2024 Abu Dhabi GP | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 Australian GP | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 Chinese GP | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 Japanese GP | 1 | 0 |
| TOTAL | 3 | 2 |
The RB21 has proven to be a difficult car to drive, with Lawson completely losing confidence over the first two race weekends. Red Bull say they have a ‘duty of care’ to protect the Kiwi driver and have taken him out of the firing line.
Lawson’s camp have welcomed the demotion back to Racing Bulls as he can gain his confidence back in a low-pressure environment and with an easier car to handle. However, he will still have to be on his game as he takes on Isack Hadjar.
READ MORE: Who is Racing Bulls F1 driver Liam Lawson? Everything you need to know
Helmut Marko’s praise for Isack Hadjar as ‘the surprise’ of 2025 will worry Liam Lawson
The Frenchman had a heartbreaking start to his F1 career after he crashed on the formation lap in Melbourne. Since then, Hadjar has recovered incredibly, reaching Q3 in Shanghai and Suzuka – scoring his first points in the latter with P8.
Damon Hill has been surprised by Hadjar, as he was not convinced by him during his F2 days. The 20-year-old has even stunned his team, with Racing Bulls being ‘extremely impressed’ by Hadjar’s one lap pace.
Helmut Marko has labelled Hadjar ‘the mini-Prost’ as he rates the Frenchman highly. Speaking after FP2 at the Bahrain Grand Prix with Sky Germany, Red Bull’s chief advisor had more praise for the Racing Bulls driver.
| Pos | Driver | Car | Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes | 1:30.505 | |
| 2 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes | 1:30.659 | +0.154s |
| 3 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:31.032 | +0.527s |
| 4 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:31.045 | +0.540s |
| 5 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:31.227 | +0.722s |
| 6 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 1:31.238 | +0.733s |
| 7 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:31.330 | +0.825s |
| 8 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:31.576 | +1.071s |
| 9 | Oliver Bearman | Haas Ferrari | 1:31.584 | +1.079s |
| 10 | Carlos Sainz | Williams Mercedes | 1:31.623 | +1.118s |
| 11 | Alexander Albon | Williams Mercedes | 1:31.696 | +1.191s |
| 12 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 1:31.706 | +1.201s |
| 13 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:31.772 | +1.267s |
| 14 | Jack Doohan | Alpine Renault | 1:31.788 | +1.283s |
| 15 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 1:31.825 | +1.320s |
| 16 | Esteban Ocon | Haas Ferrari | 1:31.870 | +1.365s |
| 17 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine Renault | 1:31.947 | +1.442s |
| 18 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:32.024 | +1.519s |
| 19 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 1:32.382 | +1.877s |
| 20 | Nico Hulkenberg | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:32.496 | +1.991s |
“Hadjar is the surprise. He’s the fewest test kilometers in Formula 1 cars, yet he’s still racing with Antonelli and the like,” he said.
“He’s calm and always there. He had a four-tenth lead over Lawson in the second free practice session. He’s a really big guy coming.”
Lawson will be worried by Marko’s comments, as Hadjar clearly has a substantial advantage over him. It will take time for the Kiwi driver to get accustomed to the VCARB 02, but he will have to find performance quickly as his teammate is already shining in F1.
Lawson’s Red Bull demotion has knocked his confidence as he seemed confused over his radio at the Japanese Grand Prix. Racing Bulls will have to work hard to get the Kiwi driver back on his feet, with Hadjar applying the pressure.
READ MORE: Who is Racing Bulls 2025 F1 driver Isack Hadjar? Everything you need to know
Is Liam Lawson fighting to stay in F1 after Red Bull demotion?
Racing Bulls have tried to take pressure off Lawson since his return to the Faenza outfit. They want to get him in the best state of mind to grab results over the rest of the season.
The New Zealander will be hopeful that he can perform and put himself back in the conversation for the Red Bull seat. However, there is also every chance he could be out of F1 come the end of the season.
Lawson is contracted until 2025, as are Hadjar and Tsunoda. However, after failing at Red Bull, it could be argued that the Kiwi driver is most at threat to be off the grid come 2026.
Red Bull are preparing Arvid Lindblad for F1 as the 17-year-old has already obtained enough points for a superlicense. If Lawson cannot get back on track, he could find himself being replaced by the Milton Keynes squad’s next rising talent.
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