The Bizarre Red Bull Situation Facing Lawson Next Year

Liam Lawson faces three possible scenarios for F1 2025, according to F1 commentator, Alex Jacques. He may not be on the grid at all, he may be in a VCARB (Red Bulls S.p.A) car or he may be Max Verstappen’s Red Bull team-mate. Whatever, it will be “really intriguing” said Jacques.

Lawson is back on the F1 grid at the United States Grand Prix a year after he substituted for an injured Daniel Ricciardo.

Currently, Red Bull has Lawson in Ricciardo’s seat in the junior team for the final six races of the championship. It is essentially an audition for a seat somewhere within the RB hierarchy next year.

Christian Horner commented that “This goes beyond VCARB, it encompasses Red Bull Racing.”

While Perez has a contract for next year, Helmut Marko says the only thing that will “guarantee” the Mexican driver stays is if he “performs accordingly”.

Currently he sits 187 points behind Verstappen in the Drivers’ Championship. He is without a podium finish for the past 13 consecutive races. Moreover, he is the only driver in the top four teams without a win.

Jacques said “I was really interested to hear Christian Horner’s comments that…there’s an opportunity for him to put himself not just in the discussion for a VCARB seat, but the actual senior team as well.”

So he has six Grands Prix to prove himself. Jacques commented that “In seven races’ time, Melbourne next year, he could be not on the grid at all, in a VCARB or in a Red Bull. And that is bewildering stuff.”

It seems Red Bull motorsport advisor, Helmut Marko, wouldn’t be afraid to promote Lawson to the senior team next season. Newcomers like Franco Colapinto have shown this year that youngsters can do the job.

Marko said to Speedweek “Liam Lawson can now contest the last six rounds of the World Championship for the Racing Bulls team. We will evaluate how he compares to Yuki Tsunoda and then we will see”.

“He has to deliver a Formula 1 worthy performance, as he has already done in his previous GP appearances.”