Liam Lawson is about to be dropped by Crimson Bull after simply two grands prix for the Method 1 squad and he’s due to get replaced by former team-mate Yuki Tsunoda.
The New Zealander moved from sister squad RB, now Racing Bulls, for 2025 after Sergio Perez was ousted having massively struggled in opposition to Crimson Bull star Max Verstappen ending 285 factors beneath him final 12 months.
RB duo Lawson and Tsunoda have been due to this fact in rivalry to turn out to be Verstappen’s team-mate with Crimson Bull choosing the previous regardless of solely 11 grand prix begins to his identify.
However the Austrian outfit is now set to reverse its choice, so here’s a take a look at the important thing dates of Lawson’s three-month stint with the crew.
19 December, 2024 – Crimson Bull affirm Lawson as Perez substitute
On Wednesday 19 December, Crimson Bull formally introduced Lawson as Verstappen’s team-mate for 2025 having confirmed Perez’s departure the day prior.
That got here regardless of Perez initially being contracted for the forthcoming 12 months, however disappointing type from the six-time grand prix winner brought on infinite hypothesis that 2024 shall be his last season at Crimson Bull.
Liam Lawson, RB F1 Crew VCARB 01, Sergio Perez, Crimson Bull Racing RB20
Photograph by: Crimson Bull Content material Pool
The affirmation lastly got here, however the choices to switch him have been slim. So, Crimson Bull continued with its conventional route of selling drivers from its junior squad, the place Lawson made his F1 debut in 2023 when the crew was referred to as AlphaTauri.
Lawson’s first race was the Dutch Grand Prix when he changed the injured Daniel Ricciardo, earlier than contesting the subsequent 4 rounds earlier than the Aussie’s return. Lawson then changed the underperforming Ricciardo for good for the ultimate six grands prix of 2024, a run which noticed the then 22-year-old rating 4 factors in comparison with Tsunoda’s eight.
Upon his promotion, Lawson mentioned: “It’s a lifelong dream of mine to be introduced as a Crimson Bull Racing driver.”
25 February, 2025 – Lawson current as Crimson Bull launched its 2025 F1 automobile
Whereas Crimson Bull launched its 2025 livery at F175, it formally unveiled the RB21 per week later. Crimson Bull’s focus was on bettering automobile stability, because the RB20 proved tough to drive and such unpredictability brought on the competitors to shut and finally overtake the 2023 world champions.
The occasion was additionally an opportunity for Lawson to replicate on his transfer to Crimson Bull and he was effectively conscious early on that going up in opposition to Verstappen in his personal crew could be the New Zealander’s hardest problem but.
“There isn’t a one you possibly can study higher from,” Lawson mentioned of Verstappen, “however the knife cuts each methods. We’re all in F1 to win and Max is the hardest one to beat.”
Liam Lawson, Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing
Photograph by: Crimson Bull Content material Pool
Lawson was conscious of the strain related to this swap. He mentioned he had no particular timeline for reaching his first victory, however his final objective was clear: win races and turn out to be world champion. There was no scarcity of ambition and confidence at the moment, however the first meters within the RB21 have been but to comply with.
26 February, 2025 – The beginning of pre-season testing in Bahrain
Lawson took to the circuit for his first official session as a Crimson Bull F1 driver, by contesting pre-season testing for the 2025 marketing campaign.
He shared the automobile with Verstappen on the opening day, the place Lawson drove 58 laps of the Bahrain Worldwide Circuit clocking a greatest time of 1m31.560s. Though the end result didn’t say a lot concerning the pure pace of the RB21, it was essential for the crew to realize perception into the efficiency of the automobile.
But it was nonetheless a tough day for Lawson, who spun at Turns 2 and three however with out harm. Lawson shortly disregarded the incident and indicated on the finish of the session that he was happy along with his efficiency.
27 February, 2025 – Lawson continues to study in pre-season testing
The second day of Bahrain testing supplied extra studying moments for Lawson, who didn’t should share the Crimson Bull with Verstappen on the Thursday.
Lawson drove 91 laps and improved his greatest time to a 1m30.252s, regardless of technical considerations for the automobile which included a cooling downside with the turbo and rain that disrupted the programme. Lawson was nonetheless happy although, stating “I am beginning to really feel an increasing number of comfy with the automobile”.
14 March, 2025 – Tough opening day on the Australian GP
Liam Lawson, Crimson Bull Racing
Photograph by: Lubomir Asenov / Motorsport Photos
The 2025 F1 season began in Australia and Lawson’s torrid marketing campaign to this point has been tough from the beginning as he completed sixteenth and seventeenth within the Melbourne Friday follow classes – the place he was a lot slower than Verstappen.
Lawson was self-critical saying he was “comfy however too sluggish” earlier than including “we count on to have some work to do after the primary day on a brand new observe, however not as a lot as we now have now”.
Crew boss Christian Horner was sympathetic although, stressing that Lawson remains to be a rookie and wanted time to develop.
“Liam, it’s a giant step up,” Horner informed Sky Sports activities F1. “Being Max’s team-mate might be the hardest job in Method 1. However he’s bought the psychological aptitude and power of character to cope with that.
“He’s not been right here earlier than, I believe he’s the one driver on the grid that hasn’t completed some laps round this circuit. However he’s discovering his toes and giving some excellent suggestions, he’s settling in properly. We’ll see over the subsequent few races.”
15 March, 2025 – Lawson’s struggles proceed with Q1 exit
A turbocharger downside brought on a tough last follow in Melbourne for Lawson, who entered qualifying with out optimum preparation.
Liam Lawson, Crimson Bull Racing
Photograph by: Crimson Bull Content material Pool
That was shortly proven, as he skidded off in Q1 inflicting Lawson to qualify in 18th for his Crimson Bull debut – the second-slowest time as Oliver Bearman didn’t set a lap after crashing.
“Lacking third follow was pricey and I should not have shot off the observe myself,” lamented Lawson. It was the worst potential begin, particularly when Tsunoda certified fifth within the VCARB02 to immediately put strain on his former team-mate.
16 March, 2025 – Lawson crashes on debut grand prix for Crimson Bull
Lawson hoped for rain on the Sunday given his low begin place and his prayers have been answered, however that’s when issues bought even worse for him: he crashed out with 10 laps remaining, after the crew opted to not pit him for intermediates.
Crimson Bull put that all the way down to Lawson already working exterior of the factors when the rain started to fall, so basically it was a really disappointing debut for the New Zealander and already an indication of issues to come back.
Once more, Tsunoda continued to impress as, regardless of ending exterior of the factors as a consequence of a misguided technique when situations grew to become moist, he drove a lot of the race within the excessive scoring positions.
21 March, 2025 – Final in dash qualifying on the Chinese language GP
Lawson’s adversity continued in Shanghai, the place he completed 18th within the first and solely free follow session. The scenario didn’t enhance both, as he completed final in dash qualifying explaining that issues with tyre temperature prevented him from setting a aggressive sufficient time.
“I believe from the start line it wasn’t too unhealthy; the primary lap was alright, after which we have been simply trying to construct on there, however we stayed out to attempt to cool the tyres on observe,” mentioned Lawson.
“To be trustworthy, I actually struggled to get the temps down, beginning the second lap, so we began too sizzling after which by way of the lap I simply struggled. It is irritating.
“It is actually a disgrace as a result of I believe actually we began OK in quali – first lap wasn’t superb, however it was comparatively OK, so it is only a disgrace to be out for one thing so irritating. Our tempo must be quite a bit additional up than the place we’re.”
22 March, 2025 – Writing on the wall for Lawson
Liam Lawson, Crimson Bull Racing, Isack Hadjar, RB F1 Crew
Photograph by: Crimson Bull Content material Pool
Lawson didn’t recuperate a lot within the dash having solely completed 14th, but that also earned reward from Marko for his laborious work and aggressiveness. However it did not take a lot to look over on the Racing Bulls storage to see Tsunoda declare sixth within the dash race to proceed his tremendous type, maybe in a decided bid to indicate Crimson Bull it promoted the unsuitable driver.
However, with one other session on the Saturday in Shanghai nonetheless to play, Lawson had a possibility to bounce again. But qualifying for the grand prix was once more poor from Lawson, who completed final after two flying laps.
His first was solely ok for nineteenth, whereas on his last one he was held up by Alpine’s Pierre Gasly by way of Flip 16 – however Lawson nonetheless made it clear that that should not have brought on his early elimination.
“It was simply a kind of issues – he [Gasly] determined to go for his lap early and I began my lap too shut,” Lawson mentioned. “However it shouldn’t be the distinction between me getting by way of to Q2 and never getting by way of, we must always actually be getting there on the primary lap. It’s one thing I have to get on high of.”
Tsunoda, in the meantime, superior to the ultimate a part of qualifying once more and he began the grand prix in ninth.
23 March, 2025 – No indicators of enchancment
Liam Lawson, Crimson Bull Racing
Photograph by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Photos
Lawson finally began the Chinese language Grand Prix from the pitlane as a consequence of some pre-race set-up adjustments, which nonetheless didn’t have the specified influence because the Crimson Bull driver as soon as once more completed exterior of the factors. He crossed the road in sixteenth, however finally bumped as much as twelfth as a consequence of a time penalty for Jack Doohan and disqualifications for each Ferraris and Gasly.
Regardless of the gulf in efficiency between Verstappen and Lawson changing into much more obvious in the course of the grand prix, the four-time world champion was nonetheless sympathetic along with his team-mate saying the Racing Bulls automobile is less complicated to drive than the RB21.
That was nonetheless no comfort for Lawson although, who admitted he’s “not going to be round” for lengthy ought to his present performances proceed. And the hypothesis was beginning to point out that, because it already emerged in the course of the Chinese language Grand Prix weekend that Lawson’s future was doubtful with Tsunoda set for a promotion.
25 March, 2025 – Session on unprecedented early driver swap
On the 25 March, all indicators began to point that Crimson Bull is now able to drop Lawson for Tsunoda forward of subsequent weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix.
Whereas Lawson has constantly struggled this 12 months, Tsunoda is but to place a foot unsuitable resulting in Marko labelling him as a “completely different Yuki from the years earlier than”.
“He’s within the type of his life,” he added. “He has a distinct method. He is extra mature. It took some time, however now it seems to be prefer it’s working”.
Learn Additionally:
On this article
Casper Bekking
Method 1
Max Verstappen
Liam Lawson
Yuki Tsunoda
Crimson Bull Racing
Racing Bulls
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