Liam Lawson has categorically rejected claims that his sudden removal from the Red Bull slot was a mental‑health safeguard, insisting the move stemmed from a lack of preparation and a risky car gamble that backfired in China.
Lawson Rejects Mental‑Health Claims
Lawson said the narrative of him being “mentally struggling” is completely false, stating that the team’s decision was made in quick succession after a disastrous sprint weekend.
Short Red Bull Tenure Explained
The New Zealander logged only two race weekends—Melbourne and China—in the 2025 season. His brief stint followed a handful of testing sessions, including a “half‑day” in Bahrain, where the car was severely compromised by limited data.
Bahrain and Melbourne Set the Stage
During the Australian opener, Lawson missed FP3 due to an engine issue and entered qualifying without soft‑tyre runs, a gap that led to a mistaken approach and a locked‑up corner that placed him out of Q1. The result was a race start from the back of the grid.
China Sprint: The Catastrophic Setup
Red Bull attempted an overnight chassis change on a sprint track Lawson had never driven. The team’s plan—to radically adjust the car’s balance for a “easier, more stable” driving experience—proved a shot in the dark. Front‑tyre degradation increased, and Lawson’s pace collapsed.
Aftermath and Next Stop
Following the China race, Lawson learned the Red Bull seat was withdrawn, and he would return to Racing Bulls for the Japanese Grand Prix. He emphasized that “you can’t judge me by one race; this was a team effort that failed.”
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