Liam Lawson disputes Red Bull mental struggling demotion

Liam Lawson has forcefully rejected Red Bull Racing's public explanation for his abrupt demotion after just two races in 2025, stating the team's claim that he was mentally struggling and needed protection is "could not be further from the truth." The New Zealander, now driving for Racing Bulls, detailed his version of events on a podcast, asserting his performance was unfairly judged following a team-sanctioned, radical setup experiment that backfired at the Chinese Grand Prix.

Lawson was promoted to Red Bull to partner Max Verstappen at the start of the 2025 season but his tenure lasted only the opening two rounds in Australia and China. He cited significant preseason preparation issues, including minimal testing and mechanical problems, which left him "very unprepared." His debut in Melbourne was compromised by an engine issue in practice, leading to a qualifying mistake and a race retirement. In Shanghai, a sprint weekend at a track he had never driven, he qualified last for both the Sprint and the Grand Prix.

The core of Lawson's grievance centers on the Chinese Grand Prix. He said the team, collectively unhappy with the performance of the RB21 car, proposed a "quite wild"...