Liam Lawson: “I was naive to think that I would be given the time to adapt” at Red Bull

Liam Lawson reflects on losing his Red Bull seat at the start of the 2025 Formula 1 season

Liam Lawson has claimed that he was maybe naive to think he would have been given more time to adjust to Red Bull at the start of the 2025 Formula 1 season.

The New Zealander was chosen to replace Sergio Perez as Max Verstappen's team-mate at Red Bull ahead of 2025. But after just two race weekends of the year in Australia and China, at two circuits he had not raced at previously, Lawson found himself replaced by Yuki Tsunoda ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix.

"It's tricky because when I look back at how it was for me, I was there two races on two tracks I'd never been to," Lawson explained to Sky Sports F1.

"I look back and think that maybe I was naive to think that I would be given the time to adapt to it because I think that was really the approach going in. So it's really tough."

Since Tsunoda replaced Lawson at the Milton Keynes outfit, he has scored nine points and is under pressure to extract a similar performance out of the car as Verstappen in order to retain the seat for 2026.

"I definitely feel sympathy for a driver that's struggling in that position because it's a very, very tough sport, and it's never nice to see somebody struggling in an environment," Lawson added when asked if he has sympathy for Tsunoda.

"But I think it's hard for me to relate, let's say, because I didn't even get to a track that I had driven before."

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images

Speaking to the media directly after the decision had been made to demote him to Racing Bulls ahead of the race at Suzuka, Lawson explained: “I think I was more surprised. Obviously it’s very early in the season, and I was hoping to go to a track that I’ve raced before and have a clean weekend to have a chance like that.

“The decision obviously was made when I was told, so although it was tough to hear, I had one or two days to think about it. Then I was in Faenza with VCARB [Racing Bulls] starting preparations and seat fits, and then you’re basically just focused on the job.

“I have the opportunity to still be in Formula 1 and still racing, and that is the main thing for me. I’m excited to be here. It’s been a strong start to the season for this team, for VCARB, so I guess it’s exciting for me to now come here in this position.”

After Tsunoda took his place at Red Bull, Lawson returned to Racing Bulls to drive alongside fellow rookie Isack Hadjar. Lawson scored his first points of 2025 at Monaco with an eighth-place finish. Overall, he has amassed 20 points, placing him 15th in the drivers' standings.