Former F1 star Ralf Schumacher has warned that Red Bull might swiftly drop their struggling driver Liam Lawson if motorsport advisor Helmut Marko had control.
After just two races with Red Bull in Australia and China, whispers are growing that Lawson could be sent back to their sister team, Racing Bulls, as early as the Japanese Grand Prix.
The 2025 campaign has been a nightmare for Lawson so far. The New Zealander has failed to escape the first qualifying session in any format, landing a lowly 20th on the grid for both the sprint and main race at China’s Shanghai International Circuit. Points, too, remain out of reach for the rookie.
Red Bull are scrambling to turn things around, with Marko confirming an emergency meeting this week at their Milton Keynes base to address their faltering season.
Lawson’s woes are only part of the story, four-time champion Max Verstappen has also voiced frustrations with the car’s performance, adding to the team’s headaches.
Schumacher, speaking to Sky Germany, argued that Red Bull need to sort out their machinery before pointing fingers at Lawson. “I think if it were up to the Dr. (Marko), it would happen quite quickly,” he said about the possibility of swapping Lawson for Racing Bulls’ Yuki Tsunoda.
“However, one must also consider that the Red Bull cars are anything but good at the moment.”
He went on to explain the tough spot Lawson occupies: “A young, new driver comes in and has to face arguably the best driver of the current Formula 1 era, someone who has spent years shaping the car to his liking. No matter who you put in that seat, I suspect they’d be sent packing after two or three races.
“So, I’d recommend they hold steady for now and focus on fixing the car.”
Schumacher pointed to last season as proof, noting, “Sergio Perez did well early in 2024 because the cars were strong, but he struggled later when they became tricky to handle.”
The spotlight now shifts to the Japanese Grand Prix, set for 53 laps around the 5.807-kilometre Suzuka Circuit on Sunday, 6 April. Red Bull fans will be watching closely to see if Lawson can turn his season around—or if the axe falls sooner than expected.
