Uncomfortable F1 driver told he could be ‘done’ at the end of the 2025 season after ‘quickest drop-off’ ever seen

The Formula 1 driver market might be about to kick into action this season after just six race weekends.

F1 Oversteer understands Alpine are set to drop Jack Doohan just a quarter of the way through his rookie season, with Franco Colapinto set to make a return to the grid.

Every rookie has been under pressure this year, each with their own different set of expectations.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli has blown people away after his start at Mercedes, with his pole position in the Miami Grand Prix Sprint Race a new high for the 18-year-old.

Oliver Bearman’s performance put Alpine on red alert about Doohan, with the Anglo-French team feeling they needed more from the 22-year-old.

However, there’s another inexperienced driver who appears to be under a lot of pressure already.

Having already lost his Red Bull seat this year, Liam Lawson hasn’t reached the heights at Racing Bulls that earned him that promotion at the end of last year.

Now, he’s got to make sure he does enough to earn a new contract, with Arvid Lindblad waiting in the wings.

READ MORE: Who is Racing Bulls F1 driver Liam Lawson? Everything you need to know

Liam Lawson’s F1 career could be ‘done’ at the end of 2025 if Arvid Lindblad stars in Formula 2

Journalist Nate Saunders was speaking on the Unlapped Podcast in the aftermath of the Miami Grand Prix.

Saunders was asked if Lawson’s seat is even ‘hotter’ than Doohan’s after his start to the season and he replied, “I would if someone like Colopinto was actively available.”

It was then put to Saunders about the possibility of Arvid Lindblad being promoted and he continued, “Red Bull traditionally don’t put people in straight out of there from Formula 2 before they’ve won races.

“But I think by the end of this year, if Lindblad had a really good Formula 2 season, I think Lawson’s done because he just doesn’t look like he’s happy, confident, comfortable, whatever you want to call it.

“And the fact he’s already been dropped from Red Bull suggests there’s not a longer-term future there.

“I did the first interview with Liam Lawson as a Red Bull driver and he was buzzing. And then three months later, I was writing Yuki Tsunoda to replace Liam Lawson.

“And now we’re talking about him not being in the grid last year. It’s probably one of the quickest drop-offs we’ve seen.

“And I feel for the guy because this isn’t his fault, this guy’s getting squeezed at turn one.

“I think the contact yesterday with Fernando and the Sprint was his fault. And unfortunately, he’s getting this reputation, isn’t he? He’s a guy that overdrives it. He’s a bit too aggressive.”

READ MORE: Red Bull junior Arvid Lindblad’s life outside F1 from height to parents

How is Arvid Lindblad faring during his maiden Formula 2 campaign?

Before the start of the year, it was Isack Hadjar who appeared to be under pressure from Lindblad, but the Frenchman has exceeded all expectations since his mishap at the Australian Grand Prix.

Yuki Tsunoda’s contract also expires at the end of the year, and if Hadjar shuffles up to race for Red Bull, that would open up a space for Lindblad.

The British driver is only 17 years old, although Lindblad is receiving extensive training to prepare him for a Formula 1 debut.

Lindblad is currently sitting seventh in the F2 drivers’ championship and became the youngest winner in the history of the series when he was victorious in the Sprint Race in Jeddah.

However, he might not be the Red Bull threat that Lawson needs to worry about.

Red Bull-backed Pepe Marti is second in the standings after winning in Bahrain and finishing second to Lindblad in Jeddah.

Lawson benefitted from the brutality of Red Bull’s driver decisions when they dropped Daniel Ricciardo last year.

However, he’s already been a victim of their decision-making once this year and needs to step up to avoid losing his place on the grid completely.