Last Updated on December 20 2024, 2:18 pm
Liam Lawson: A mis-step for Red Bull Racing? – The decision to pair Liam Lawson with four-time Formula One World Champion Max Verstappen for Red Bull Racing in 2025 has sparked heated debate. While some have hailed the move as a testament to Red Bull’s faith in its junior programme, others see it as a gamble that could backfire. For one prominent pundit, the choice of Lawson is a strategic misstep.
With just 11 Grand Prix starts under his belt, Lawson will be stepping into one of the most demanding environments in motorsport, partnering with Verstappen – a driver widely regarded as one of the greatest of all time. The New Zealander’s promotion raises an important question: did Red Bull make the right decision, or is history about to repeat itself?
Red Bull’s risky track record
Over the years, Red Bull Racing has built a reputation for demanding excellence from its drivers. While Verstappen has flourished, his teammates have often struggled to live up to the team’s high expectations.
Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon and, most recently, Sergio Pérez have all suffered significant setbacks following their stints alongside the Dutchman.
Pérez’s tenure as Verstappen’s team-mate began with promise, but ended in disappointment. With no seat secured for 2025, the Mexican joins a growing list of former Red Bull number twos who have failed to thrive in the shadow of Verstappen’s dominance. Despite this, Red Bull have once again opted to promote from within, selecting Lawson as the latest experiment in their driver development pipeline.
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The case against Lawson
Critics argue that Lawson’s limited experience makes him an unlikely candidate for one of the most demanding seats in F1. Among those expressing concern is Sky Sports F1 analyst Ted Kravitz, who didn’t mince his words about the decision.
“For me, it’s the wrong decision,” Kravitz told the Sky Sport F1 podcast.
“As strange as it sounds, I think Alex Albon would have been the right choice.”
Kravitz’s view is based on Albon’s current form and maturity. After a turbulent period at Red Bull in 2019 and 2020, the British-Thai driver has rebuilt his reputation with strong performances at Williams. According to Kravitz, this new-found wisdom and confidence could have made Albon a better partner for Verstappen.
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Why Alex Albon was the safer bet
Kravitz believes Red Bull missed an opportunity to bring Albon back into the fold. Despite struggling during his first stint with the team, Albon has developed into a more polished driver.
“It wouldn’t have taken a lot of pressure to get Albon out of Williams,” Kravitz explained.
“They could have promoted Franco Colapinto to Williams alongside Carlos Sainz – it would have been perfect.”
The expert argued that Albon, now “so much older and wiser”, would have been better equipped to handle the pressure of racing alongside Verstappen. His familiarity with Red Bull’s culture and ability to learn from past mistakes would have given the team more stability.
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A familiar strategy
Red Bull’s decision to promote Lawson mirrors their previous decisions to promote Gasly and Albon from their junior programme, a strategy that has produced mixed results. While the team’s commitment to nurturing young talent is commendable, the approach has often led to disappointing results.
Gasly, for example, struggled to adapt to the senior team environment and was demoted back to VCARB (formerly AlphaTauri) midway through the 2019 season. Albon faced a similar fate after failing to live up to expectations during his 18-month stint.
The intense pressure, coupled with Verstappen’s sheer dominance, proved an insurmountable challenge for many promising drivers.
At just 23 years of age, Lawson faces the same uphill battle. While he has shown flashes of brilliance in his limited F1 appearances, it remains to be seen whether he can thrive under the immense scrutiny of partnering with Verstappen.
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Red Bull’s high-stakes gamble
In selecting Lawson, Red Bull are betting on his potential to rise to the occasion. But the gamble comes with considerable risk. If Lawson falters, it could not only derail his career, but also disrupt the team’s momentum in the championship battle.
Kravitz summed up the situation succinctly: “Maybe this approach will work on the third try”. But if history is any guide, Red Bull’s reliance on inexperienced talent to complement Verstappen may not yield the desired results.
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Can Lawson prove the doubters wrong?
While criticism of Red Bull’s decision is justified, it’s worth noting that every driver’s journey is unique. Verstappen himself was promoted to the senior team at a young age and quickly silenced the sceptics with his prodigious talent. Lawson may possess similar resilience and skill, but the task ahead is daunting.
To succeed, the New Zealander will need to demonstrate not only raw speed but also mental toughness. Navigating the high-pressure environment of Red Bull Racing while living up to the standards set by Verstappen will be the ultimate test of his abilities.
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The way forward
As the 2025 season approaches, all eyes will be on Red Bull’s new driver line-up. For now, the debate over Lawson’s suitability is likely to continue.
Whether the young driver thrives or falters, his performance will undoubtedly shape the narrative around Red Bull’s driver development programme for years to come.
One thing is certain: Red Bull’s decision to back Lawson underlines the high-stakes nature of Formula One. In a sport where every decision can mean the difference between success and failure, only time will tell if the gamble pays off.
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With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
