Red Bull scored just 12 points at the Chinese Grand Prix as world champion Max Verstappen missed out on a podium and Liam Lawson was 15th across the line in Shanghai
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has confirmed that an emergency meeting will be held at the team’s Milton Keynes headquarters amid Liam Lawson’s nightmare start to the season. Marko admits that Red Bull are ‘worried’ after Lawson’s lowly results at both the Australian Grand Prix and Chinese Grand Prix.
Lawson, who was chosen to replace the axed Sergio Perez at the end of last season, failed to reach the second round of qualifying for both Grands Prix as well as Saturday’s Sprint race in China. The New Zealander, 23, started from the pit lane in Shanghai on Sunday – as he did in Melbourne – but failed to make it through the pack and into the points.
In his 13th race in Formula 1, Lawson was 15th across the line, only to be bumped up three places after Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc and Pierre Gasley were all disqualified due to flouting technical regulations. Reflecting on Lawson’s woes, Marko revealed to Sky Germany: “This week there is a meeting in Milton Keynes to discuss when and how we can close the gap.
“Until then, it’s about scoring as many points as possible. We are worried, but it is not like we are throwing in the towel.”
Red Bull could decide to swap Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda for the Japanese Grand Prix, his home race. Tsunoda drove alongside Lawson for Red Bull’s junior team, VCARB, for the final six Grands Prix of 2024, going faster than him in qualifying every time.
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Marko suggested ahead of Sunday’s race that a decision on Lawson won’t be made until after Suzuka, the first of an April triple-header. “Don’t write him off yet,” he told Austrian media. “Let’s wait for the first three races. Those are at different circuits. After that, a clearer picture will emerge.”
Team principal Christian Horner said to Sky Sports regarding Lawson’s future: “There’s always going to be speculation in the paddock. As I say, we’ve only just finished the race here. We’ll take away the info and have a good look at it.”
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A dejected Lawson acknowledged that his start to life in the Red Bull car – which four-time world champion Max Verstappen also struggled in, finishing fourth in Shanghai – has been a disaster. “It’s safe to say that we’re not happy,” the 23-year-old confessed.
“None of us are happy. I don’t know what more you want me to say to that, really.
Lawson added: “I think Max is able to get in and have the car on the limit, knows where the limit is everywhere, and be comfortable with it, and it’s just something I’m figuring out. It’s obviously extremely tough. It’s not something I’m enjoying, but I’m honestly working as hard as I can to get on top of it.”
