There’s been growing speculation in the Formula 1 paddock suggesting that Liam Lawson’s time at Red Bull might already be coming to an end.
The 23-year-old New Zealander, who joined the team for the start of the season, could soon find himself back at the Racing Bulls sister team.
These rumors have caught the attention of F1 fans and experts alike, with some even questioning whether this move is too early in the season.
Ralf Schumacher Weighs In on the Situation
Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher has weighed in on the ongoing driver shuffle.
Speaking to Sky Deutschland, he suggested that while the official confirmation hasn’t come through yet, it looks like Yuki Tsunoda will be taking over from Lawson for the upcoming race.
“Liam Lawson is already out for the next race, and Yuki Tsunoda will replace him.
It hasn’t been confirmed yet, but that’s how it is,” Schumacher stated.
He went on to add that Lawson would likely return to Racing Bulls to continue his development.
Tsunoda’s Confidence vs Lawson’s Struggles
Tsunoda’s confidence is evident. After Lawson’s underwhelming performance in China, where he was the slowest driver throughout the weekend, Tsunoda made it clear he was ready to step in.
“I’m 100% ready to replace him,” Tsunoda said, even expressing confidence that he would perform better in the same car.
Meanwhile, Lawson, feeling the weight of the criticism, responded with a more somber tone: “He can say whatever he wants.
I’ve been racing him for years, I’ve beaten him in junior categories, and I’ve done it in F1, too.”
Red Bull Team Management Faces Crucial Meeting
Amidst these developments, Red Bull’s management is preparing for a crucial meeting to discuss the team’s struggles with the RB21 car.
This meeting, reportedly set for Thursday in Milton Keynes, will focus on finding solutions to close the performance gap.
Red Bull advisor Dr. Helmut Marko acknowledged the concerns, stating, “We’re worried, but we’re not giving up.”
Red Bull’s Crisis: Is the Team in Chaos?
Despite these efforts, Schumacher is not optimistic about the situation at Red Bull.
He described the current state of the team as “pure chaos.”
He criticized not only the team’s performance but also the way they are handling the driver situation.
“Not only is the main team too slow, they’re also swapping drivers around like a charade,” Schumacher said.
He believes this instability could harm the Racing Bulls team, which has been performing well recently with both drivers.
Schumacher also warned that Tsunoda may not fare any better if he is placed in a similar situation, especially given the team’s challenges with the car.
“They’re just going to burn out Tsunoda as well, who has no chance against Max Verstappen,” he added.
Schumacher suggested that if he were Tsunoda’s manager, he would advise against moving to Red Bull at this time.
The Question: Should Red Bull Replace Lawson So Early in the Season?
The situation raises a significant question: Should Red Bull replace Lawson so early in the season? As the team deals with performance issues, it’s clear that any replacement for Lawson will face similar struggles, especially with the challenging 2025 Red Bull car.
With so much uncertainty, it remains to be seen how Red Bull will handle their driver lineup moving forward.