NEW DELHI: Lawson dropped after Perez’s failings as Red Bull drops him just two races into the 2025 Formula 1 season. The team once had high hopes for him, even paying off Sergio Perez to secure his seat. But with qualifying results of 18th, 20th, and 20th, Red Bull quickly lost faith.
This marks a drastic shift from Red Bull’s belief last winter that Lawson could solve its second-driver issues. Perez’s struggles in 2024 had cost the team the constructors’ title, making a strong second driver essential.
Signed for Potential
Red Bull picked Lawson over Tsunoda for his potential. Horner praised his race pace, which was slightly better than Tsunoda’s. Despite just 11 F1 races, he showed promise.
Lawson had already impressed by nearly winning the 2021 DTM title and the 2023 Super Formula championship. His performance in the chaotic 2023 Brazilian GP further solidified his reputation. Horner believed he had the mental strength needed for Red Bull.
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But within 10 days—between Australia and China—Red Bull changed its mind. The RB21 car didn’t suit Lawson. Even Verstappen admitted it was tricky to drive.
The car’s aggressive front-end balance favors Verstappen’s style. He excels with a nervous rear end. Lawson, however, couldn’t find consistency in its narrow operating window.
Lawson wasn’t slow everywhere. In some sectors, he matched Verstappen. But key corners cost him time. In China’s Q1, he lost ground in the first corner complex and again at the back straight exit, ruining his lap.
Lawson admitted, “It’s just a small window… It’s hard to drive, hard to get in that window.” He needed more time to adapt, but Red Bull wasn’t willing to wait.
Built for Verstappen
Red Bull didn’t intentionally build the RB21 for Verstappen. But Perez’s weak feedback over four years meant Verstappen’s input shaped car development.
Horner recalled how a 2022 upgrade shifted the car’s balance toward Verstappen’s preference. Perez struggled from that point onward. Red Bull followed data, and Verstappen’s results guided their decisions.
Perez’s decline in 2024 hurt Red Bull badly. The team renewed his contract, hoping for stability. It didn’t work. He had occasional strong races but remained inconsistent.
Red Bull hesitated to drop Perez, waiting for improvement. That mistake cost them the constructors’ title. They finished third with 589 points. McLaren won with 666, and Ferrari took second with 652.
Perez’s massive 285-point deficit to Verstappen meant Red Bull lost nearly $20 million in prize money.
This time, Red Bull acted fast. Horner had told Lawson, “We’re not expecting him to beat Max… The objective is to get as close as he can and bag points.”
But after two races, Lawson contributed nothing. Verstappen is just eight points behind leader Lando Norris, keeping Red Bull in contention. But with Mercedes and Ferrari improving, the team couldn’t risk losing ground.
Lawson admitted, “I don’t have time to test the car and get used to it… Each race, we’re losing points.”
But Red Bull had no patience. The Lawson-Tsunoda swap will now reveal the truth—was the problem the car or the second driver? Either way, Lawson dropped after Perez’s failings.
