Horner addresses speculation that Lawson could be replaced at Red Bull for Japanese GP

Christian Horner faced question after question from the world’s media about Liam Lawson’s Formula 1 future following another tough weekend for the Red Bull newcomer in China.

Lawson arrived at the Shanghai International Circuit aiming to put a challenging debut for the senior team at last weekend’s Australian Grand Prix behind him – the 23-year-old New Zealander having dropped out in Q1 and crashed out of the race.

However, hopes of improving the situation were soon dashed when Lawson qualified 20th and last in both Sprint Qualifying and the main Qualifying session, leaving him with a huge task to get anywhere near the points.

Red Bull opted to make significant set-up changes ahead of Sunday’s Grand Prix, meaning Lawson started from the pit lane for the second successive weekend, but he could place no higher than 15th before a trio of post-race disqualifications lifted him to P12 in the final results.

Asked how long Red Bull can afford such performances from Lawson, while team mate Max Verstappen is fighting towards the front, team boss Horner said: “I think Liam’s had a tough couple of races, a tough weekend here.

SHANGHAI, CHINA - MARCH 23: Liam Lawson of New Zealand and Oracle Red Bull Racing looks on during — Lawson experienced another difficult weekend at the Shanghai circuit

“We elected to take him off the grid, out of Parce Ferme, to do a significant set-up change, so we managed to get 56 laps of reasonable data from that. Obviously, we’ll take that away, we’ll have a good look at it, and as a group we’ll do our best to support him.”

Pushed on media reports suggesting that Red Bull could make a driver change as early as the next race in Japan, Horner added: “There’s always going to be speculation in the paddock. As I say, we’ve only just finished the race here, we’ll take away the info and have a good look at it.”

And pressed further on there being a possibility of Lawson not racing the RB21 at Suzuka, he delivered a similar line, saying: “Look, I think everything is purely speculative at the moment. As I say, we’ve just finished this race, we’re going to take away the info and have a good look at it.”

Horner continued: “I think Liam still has got potential, we’re just not realising that at the moment. I think the problem for him is he’s had a couple of really tough weekends and he’s got all the media on his back.

“The pressure just naturally grows in this business. I feel very sorry for him that he’s… you can see it’s very tough on him at the moment.

Lawson has ‘a lot to learn from this weekend’

“He’s a young guy, we’ve got a duty to look after him. We’re going to do the best that we can to support him. Liam’s still a very capable driver, we know that, we’re just not… for whatever reason, we’re not seeing him able to deliver that at the moment.”

Horner was subsequently asked about Racing Bulls drivers Yuki Tsunoda and Isack Hadjar, admitting he has been impressed by both of them so far in 2025 – as well as how they performed for Red Bull in last year’s Abu Dhabi post-season test.

Asked if Tsunoda would be the “prime candidate” for Red Bull, should they decide to replace Lawson, Horner stated: “I’m not even going to comment on a change, because that will be your first headline.

“As I say, we’re two races into this championship, we have a sample of two [races]. We have quite a bit of information, so we’re going to go away and have a good look at it, work with Liam, and do the best we can for him.

“There’s so much info [available], how he’s adapted driving the car, what he’s getting from the car, what we can do to help, where were his major issues, what’s causing the inconsistency… all of those issues.”