Red Bull Star Tipped for Shock F1 Demotion as R…read more
Liam Lawson, once hailed as Red Bull’s next big Formula 1 prospect, finds himself under immense pressure once again. Just a few months into the 2025 season, the 23-year-old’s career trajectory has taken a sharp downturn following a brief promotion to the senior Red Bull Racing team. Replacing Sergio Pérez after just two races, Lawson partnered reigning world champion Max Verstappen in what was expected to be a breakthrough opportunity. However, his stint at the top was short-lived. After underwhelming performances, Red Bull made the bold decision to promote Yuki Tsunoda from their sister outfit, Racing Bulls, back into the senior team lineup—relegating Lawson back to the junior squad.
Now, having returned to Racing Bulls, Lawson has struggled to find form. He remains pointless after several rounds, while his rookie teammate, 19-year-old Isack Hadjar, has already scored five points driving the same machinery. The disparity in their performances has raised questions about Lawson’s ability to consistently compete at the highest level. Tsunoda, meanwhile, has settled in well at Red Bull, showing stronger pace and contributing to the team’s championship ambitions with steady point finishes. His improved consistency has only intensified the spotlight on Lawson’s faltering campaign.
This growing scrutiny has led to speculation from key figures within the F1 world. Most notably, former grand prix winner Juan Pablo Montoya has spoken out about Lawson’s precarious position. Speaking to Spanish outlet AS, Montoya suggested that Red Bull may already be eyeing another rising star to take Lawson’s place—17-year-old British-Swedish driver Arvid Lindblad. “If Liam doesn’t improve quickly, I wouldn’t be surprised if they bring in Arvid Lindblad at some point,” Montoya said. “Not at all, I wouldn’t be surprised.”
Montoya further explained that the mental toll of Lawson’s Red Bull demotion may have significantly impacted the young driver’s confidence and form. “The situation at Red Bull was complicated,” he added. “I think it was a big blow, and he needed a lot of psychological help afterwards. If Lawson doesn’t recover quickly, I’m sure Red Bull will look elsewhere. That’s just how they work.”
Red Bull has long been known for its ruthlessly meritocratic approach to driver development. Their junior programme, which has produced stars like Sebastian Vettel and Verstappen himself, has a history of rapid promotions and equally swift dismissals. Lawson, once considered a future frontrunner, now appears to be fighting for his F1 survival.
Enter Arvid Lindblad, Red Bull’s latest prodigy. The teenager has rapidly climbed the motorsport ladder, earning promotion to Formula 2 for the 2025 season after an impressive campaign in Formula 3. In 2024, Lindblad finished fourth overall in the F3 championship, taking four race wins and an additional podium. He made headlines during the British Grand Prix weekend by becoming the first F3 driver in history to win both the sprint and feature races in a single event.
His rapid ascent hasn’t slowed in F2 either. In just his debut year, Lindblad has already secured his first race win and accrued enough points on his FIA superlicence to be eligible for an F1 seat, should the FIA grant a special exemption due to his age. The 17-year-old is now being seriously considered as a future Red Bull driver, and whispers around the paddock suggest he may leapfrog Lawson if current trends continue.
For Lawson, the path forward is clear but challenging. He must rediscover the form that once made him a top prospect and help lift Racing Bulls in the constructors’ standings. More importantly, he needs to outperform Hadjar and close the growing performance gap, both in race pace and results. The pressure is on, and time is not on his side.
As Red Bull continues to monitor its talent pipeline closely, Lawson’s place in F1 is anything but secure. With Lindblad’s meteoric rise and Red Bull’s history of bold driver decisions, the Kiwi driver may soon find himself in a battle not just for points, but for his very future in Formula 1.
