Liam Lawson’s journey in the F1 2025 season has been a rollercoaster, marked by a significant shift back to Racing Bulls after a challenging stint with Red Bull. Once the season kicked off, Red Bull quickly recognized the need for change after Lawson faced intense pressure handling the RB21, a car notorious for its complexity.
The decision to move Lawson back was made with the goal of reigniting his confidence. Though Lawson arrived at Red Bull full of potential, the demands of the RB21 proved too much, especially when compared to teammate Max Verstappen, who is seasoned with nearly a decade of experience in Red Bull cars. The transition was inevitable to avoid further shaking Lawson’s self-assurance.
With only 11 races to his name from previous seasons, Lawson was relatively inexperienced, making the decision to switch him with Yuki Tsunoda logical. Tsunoda, who had developed his skills at Racing Bulls since 2021, took over Lawson’s position at Red Bull, while Lawson returned to a team environment he knew well.
Interestingly, Lawson found himself in a slightly unfamiliar setting upon his return to Racing Bulls. His former garage was now occupied by another rookie, Isack Hadjar, who had also taken Lawson’s previous race engineer. Lawson was now collaborating with Tsunoda’s prior team and race engineer, Ernesto Derniderio.
Despite initial confusion, Racing Bulls boss Laurent Mekies humorously noted Lawson’s adaptability, stating that while Lawson was initially perplexed by the garage switch, he adjusted well. Mekies emphasized that their focus was on ensuring Lawson felt comfortable in the car again, a key step to unlock his latent speed.
Racing Bulls, while utilizing components from Red Bull, offers Lawson a car with a broader operating window. This change gives Lawson a chance to regain confidence and showcase his natural skills, free from the constraints that hindered him at Red Bull.
In recent races, Lawson’s progress was evident. He out-qualified his teammate Hadjar in Saudi Arabia, though a penalty affected his race position. Mekies observed improvements in Lawson’s driving data, indicating a return to form despite his absence from Racing Bulls.
What surprised many was Lawson’s struggle with the RB21. Given his impressive adaptability across various racing categories, the difficulty seemed uncharacteristic. Mekies remained puzzled by the challenges, attributing some issues to the high pressure at Red Bull.
Mekies noted that rediscovering Lawson’s speed from past seasons is a matter of time. With strong support from the Racing Bulls team, Lawson is taking steps to regain his confidence, proving that while they may not always agree, the collaboration is positive and encouraging.
Liam Lawson’s return to Racing Bulls marks a critical phase in his career, where reclaiming confidence and pace is essential. While his time at Red Bull was less than stellar, the move back provides him with a familiar yet challenging environment to thrive. Lawson’s journey highlights the intricate balance between skill and confidence in the high-stakes world of F1 racing.
