Red Bull F1 star hits back at abrupt sacking

Verstappen, Lawson, Tsunoda,socials — Photo: © IMAGO

Formula 1

Red Bull star hits back at abrupt sacking

Red Bull have undergone several changes in 2025

Kevin McKenna

Tuesday 22 July 2025 17:00

A Red Bull star has hit out at their abrupt F1 axe from the team earlier in the season.

In 2025, Red Bull have been on quite the driver lineup merry-go-round after they axed Sergio Perez and replaced the Mexican with Liam Lawson.

However, a DNF and 16th-place finish in Australia and China respectively prompted Red Bull to make a shock change after just two grands prix which saw Lawson swap places with Racing Bulls racer Yuki Tsunoda.

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The move was widely criticised by pundits and drivers alike, with many insisting that the 23-year-old wasn't given enough time to show what he can do.

Speaking in an interview with F1.com, Lawson has admitted he shares the sentiment.

“It’s been very heavily speculated that my confidence took a hit and stuff like this, which is completely false. From the start of the year, I felt the same as I always have.

“I think in two races, on tracks I’d never been to, it’s not really enough for my confidence… maybe six months into a season, if I’m still at that level, if the results are still like that, then I’d be feeling something - maybe my confidence would be taking a hit."

Was Lawson axed too soon from Red Bull?

Highlighting several factors behind his early season struggles, he added: “I was well aware that those results weren’t good enough, but I was just focused on improving, fixing and learning, basically. I was in the same mindset as I have been since I came into F1.

“I think that was the biggest thing going into a team like that, in a car like that… it was going to take a bit of time to adjust and learn.

"With no proper testing, the issues in testing, the issues in Melbourne through practice… it wasn’t smooth and clean. I needed time, and I wasn’t given it.”

While Lawson has looked far more comfortable back in the Racing Bulls seat, it has been far from plain sailing, having scored points just twice in 10 outings to date.

Tsunoda, meanwhile, has offered little in the way of improvement on his predecessor, and is on a run of five races without a top-10 finish.

Red Bull's chances of winning the constructors' championship are already over, with McLaren 288 points clear at the top of the standings, while star driver Max Verstappen is facing up to the prospect of losing his drivers' title to Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.

With the Dutchman's future also in doubt - coupled with the recent sacking of team principal Christian Horner - it promises to be a challenging period ahead for the F1 giants.