Liam Lawson has opened up about his unexpected demotion from Red Bull Racing to their junior team, Racing Bulls, following a rocky start to the 2025 Formula 1 season.
The 23-year-old New Zealander, who was replaced by Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda after just two races, admitted the decision caught him off guard.
“It was definitely a shock, honestly. It’s not something I saw coming,” Lawson told Sky Sports. “The discussions we were having weren’t leaning in this direction.”
Lawson was selected to fill the seat left vacant by Sergio Perez’s departure at the end of 2024. However, his debut in Australia was marred by challenges, including qualifying 18th and crashing out during a rainy race.
His struggles continued at the Chinese Grand Prix, where he qualified last for both the sprint and main race, finishing 14th and 12th respectively.
The underwhelming results prompted Red Bull team principal Christian Horner and motorsport director Helmut Marko to make a swift change, with Marko admitting the team had “made a mistake” in signing Lawson.
“Obviously, I would have loved more time,” Lawson shared. “We had a rocky testing and Melbourne was tough. China being a sprint made things more challenging. But it’s not my decision—I’m here to make the most of this one.”
Now joining Racing Bulls alongside Isack Hadjar, Lawson faces a new chapter in his career, with first practice in his new car set for Friday at the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka.
