Lawson's 2025: A Red Bull Demotion and a Racing Bulls Redemption
After a brutal two-race demotion from Red Bull, Liam Lawson fought back at Racing Bulls. His impressive recovery throughout the 2025 season secured his future with a full-time 2026 drive.
Liam Lawson's 2025 season was a rollercoaster, defined by a brutal demotion from Red Bull Racing after just two woeful weekends. Stripped of his seat alongside Max Verstappen, the New Zealander was sent back to Racing Bulls in a high-stakes audition for his F1 future. He used the 22-race stint to gradually rebuild his form, ultimately proving his resilience and securing a full-time drive for 2026.
Why it matters:
Lawson's journey highlights the immense pressure and ruthless decision-making at a top team like Red Bull. His ability to recover from such a public and swift demotion is a testament to his mental fortitude and a crucial test of his talent. For Red Bull, it validated their driver development system, showing they can make tough calls and that a demotion isn't necessarily a career-ender, but a chance for a driver to prove their mettle.
The details:
- A Brutal Start: Lawson's tenure with the senior team lasted only two races (Australia, China), where he struggled with crashes and poor qualifying. Management felt his season was already "spiraling out of control."
- The Switch: He was immediately reassigned to Racing Bulls to partner promising rookie Isack Hadjar, starting from the Japanese Grand Prix, in what became a direct shootout for a 2026 seat.
- The Fightback: Despite Hadjar's early advantage from pre-season testing, Lawson steadily improved. While Hadjar was often quicker over one lap, Lawson's race pace became a consistent strength as he grew more comfortable with the car.
- Validation: Team CEO Peter Bayer praised Lawson's "fantastic job" in Abu Dhabi, noting that he had "stabilised over the season" and his "race pace is consistently very strong."
What's next:
The 2026 season will be a crucial one for Lawson, marking the first time he will complete a full campaign with a single team. This stability provides the platform he needs to silence any remaining doubts about his "staying power" at the top level. With a full pre-season under his belt and a year of experience with the team, Lawson will aim to establish himself as a consistent frontrunner and a key asset in Red Bull's long-term plans.