Liam Lawson’s debut weekend with Red Bull Racing at the Australian Grand Prix ended in disaster, capping off what many described as a frustrating introduction to Formula 1. The 2025 season opener in Melbourne saw Lawson crash out during the race after struggling to keep pace and facing various technical issues throughout the weekend.
During the event on March 16, 2025, Lawson found himself as one of six drivers forced to withdraw from the race, all of whom were affected by the challenging wet conditions at Alberts Park. Having opted to stay out on slick tires when droplets began to fall, Lawson lost control and crashed out on lap 47. The incident symbolized the culmination of several miscalculations during the weekend.
Lawson’s race was marred by unfortunate luck and challenges right from the get-go. Missing out on the final practice due to technical issues with his turbo, he was already on the back foot heading to qualifying. It showed as he stumbled during his qualifiers, where he remarked, “I made a stupid mistake” and couldn’t escape Q1, starting the race from 18th on the grid.
To improve his position, Red Bull made last-minute setup changes, hoping to provide more downforce by adjusting his rear wing—a move intended to bolster Lawson’s confidence. Unfortunately, it only left him starting from the pit lane, which made his challenge more arduous.
“This whole weekend was pretty terrible,” Lawson assessed post-race. “We were too slow at the start and then we gambled. It nearly worked, but it wasn’t to be.” This gamble included trying to ride out the rain on slick tires during the race, which proved ill-fated as conditions deteriorated rapidly.
Sky Sports analyst Ted Kravitz highlighted the impact of these choices, expressing skepticism over Red Bull’s adjustments. “All it did was make the car very, very slow,” he explained, emphasizing how Lawson had no opportunity to recover. He and his team aimed to increase downforce, but the attempt didn't translate to improved performance.
The pressure is now on Lawson as he moves forward to the Chinese Grand Prix, scheduled for March 21, 2025, where he hopes to turn things around: “I’m just excited to go to China and reset,” Lawson said, showing eagerness to put his disappointing experience behind him.
This rookie season is pivotal for Lawson, who is stepping up to fill the challenging role alongside Max Verstappen, aiming to regularly score points for Red Bull—an effort previously hampered by his predecessors. Each race will be closely watched, with team advisors like Helmut Marko and Christian Horner emphasizing the need for swift progress.
Marko stated, “We have to let him cool down” after the challenging start and observe his development over the early races. Meanwhile, Horner acknowledged the severe circumstances at Albert Park, affirming the rookie’s capability, saying, “This weekend, it wasn’t representative of what he’s capable of.”
Although Lawson's pace was not impressive at Albert Park, under slick conditions, he managed to clock the second-fastest lap of the race, posting time of 1:22.9, indicating there’s potential for growth should the team find the right setup for him.
Sky F1 commentator Martin Brundle has also noted the urgency for Lawson to progress. With Red Bull’s infamous reputation for quickly replacing underperforming drivers, Brundle quipped, “That team doesn’t do cuddles. P45s are more their thing”. The implication is clear: Lawson needs to find his footing fast to maintain his position within the high-pressure Red Bull environment.
Looking toward the future, Lawson reflects on past experiences and insists he can bounce back from setback. He said, “It’s something I’ve been through plenty of times before” as he prepared himself for the sprint race format at the next Grand Prix, expressing confidence amid challenges. The excitement of returning to drive again offers him hope to revitalize his F1 career after the disappointing Australian Grand Prix.
Lawson hopes the upcoming races provide the right opportunities to display his true capabilities, allowing him to evolve and secure his place within the Red Bull family. With the stakes high and future performance to weigh heavily on his shoulders, all eyes will be on the Kiwi as the 2025 season continues.
