Lawson’s rocky Start: A Symptom, Not the Disease

After only two races into the 2025 Formula 1 season, speculation is already swirling around Liam Lawson’s future with Red Bull. His underwhelming performances in Australia and China have fueled rumors of a potential replacement. Initial whispers suggested a swap with Yuki Tsunoda as early as the Suzuka Grand Prix. Now, reports indicate Franco Colapinto might be in line to take Lawson’s seat at Racing Bulls.

However, the rapid consideration of Lawson’s replacement reveals more about Red Bull’s internal dynamics than it does about Lawson himself.

The Verstappen Factor: A Double-edged Sword

Red Bull’s decision to place a driver with limited experience – just 11 Grand Prix starts – alongside the formidable Max Verstappen was always a high-stakes gamble. Lawson,despite his perceived similarity in driving style to Verstappen and his undeniable determination,was seemingly set up for failure.

the challenge isn’t lawson’s character. As Alex Albon,a former Verstappen teammate,explained on the High Performance podcast,Verstappen thrives with a car that has a very sharp front end,allowing him to control the resulting rear instability.

Verstappen loves the single -seater with a very faulty front, and is enhanced in controlling the instability at the rear that derives from it.

The Ripple Effect: How Verstappen’s Style Shapes the Car

This unique driving style, while incredibly effective for Verstappen, creates a challenging surroundings for his teammates. Albon noted the difficulty in adapting to a car tailored to Verstappen’s preferences.

You begin to remain slightly back, and then with the continuation of the Max season it requires an increasingly sharp front, and becomes faster and faster. At that point, to try to emulate it you have to take major risks.

This pursuit of emulation can lead to errors and a downward spiral of tension, especially within the high-pressure environment of Red Bull. The team’s focus on catering to Verstappen’s needs, while understandable given his success, inadvertently creates a single-seater that is difficult for others to master.Even Verstappen himself has struggled with the RB21’s capricious nature, finding its sweet spot primarily during qualifying laps.

For a driver like Lawson, who lacks a full season of experience, this lack of confidence in the car’s responsiveness can be devastating.

Beyond the Teammate: A Systemic Issue

It’s worth remembering that even Verstappen spent over a year at Toro Rosso (now Racing Bulls) before joining Red Bull. The question then becomes: why did Red Bull beleive Lawson was ready for such a demanding challenge?

The core issue for Red Bull isn’t the identity of Verstappen’s teammate; it’s Verstappen himself. While he has brought immense success to the team, his unique driving style has inadvertently led Red Bull down a advancement path that may not be lasting. Sergio perez, in a prophetic moment, had previously cautioned against this approach, but his concerns were seemingly dismissed. The allure of capitalizing on Verstappen’s remarkable talent proved too strong to resist.

The Cracks Beneath the Surface

Formula 1 history is filled with examples of drivers who achieved greatness through a perfect synergy between their driving style and the characteristics of their car. This is the foundation of Verstappen and Red Bull’s success. However, championships are rarely won with a single driver.

Even Verstappen, as exceptional as he is, cannot consistently overcome the inherent limitations of a car designed almost exclusively around his preferences. Daniel Ricciardo, during his initial years with Red bull, was the last teammate who could genuinely challenge Verstappen. Sence then, a series of drivers have struggled to adapt.

While Verstappen continues to shine, the foundations of Red Bull’s dominance are showing signs of strain. The question now is whether it’s only a matter of time before Verstappen, the linchpin of the team, decides to leave, triggering a seismic shift within the sport. What would Red Bull do without its guiding star? The constant rotation of drivers alongside Verstappen raises this very question, highlighting the potential for the man who made Red Bull’s fortune to also become its downfall.