From last on the grid, Liam Lawson laboured to a 16th place finish on the road in Shanghai.
It was a result no team would have been pleased with. But for a front-running team like Red Bull it was an alarmingly poor showing from their new driver, and has prompted speculation they might even take the drastic step of replacing him before the next race.Lawson qualified at the back for both of last weekend’s races at Shanghai International Circuit. He made modest progress over the 19-lap sprint race, taking the chequered flag in 14th place.
For the grand prix, Lawson pinned his hopes on an aggressive set-up change which he hoped would allow him to drive the car the way he wanted to. But those hopes were dashed over the 56 laps which followed, as his communications with race engineer Richard Wood below show.
As the race wore on, the exchanges between the pair became fewer and further between, as it became clear neither could find an answer to the handling problems Lawson experienced, and he dropped further off the pace of his team mate. By the end of the race, Max Verstappen’s lap times were more than a second quicker than his team mate’s, despite his tyres being 17 laps older.
Lawson took the chequered flag 16th. Penalties for four other drivers later promoted him to 12th, but his 64-second deficit to Verstappen will be of utmost concern to his team.
Lawson’s Chinese Grand Prix radio messages
Jump to:
Stint 1: Hard
Stint 2: Medium
Stint 3: Hard
Finish
Stint 1: Hard
The trio who started on the hard tyres all slowed around lap 15, as they were passed by those who started on mediums and emerged from the pits behind them after changing tyres. But while Stroll and Bearman’s lap times recovered, Lawson’s did not, leading Red Bull to pit him much earlier than them.
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| Pre-start | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Caution, caution. Okay straight down at the pit lane. That’s 30 seconds till green light. Just a radio check. Lawson drives to the pit lane exit and stops |
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| Lawson | Copy that radio check. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Yeah, we’re loud and clear. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lawson | What mode would you like me in for the formation at start? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | 12, as you are. Okay, that is green light for the grid. Lawson pulls away when he gets the green light and follows the others around on the formation lap |
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| Wood | Release was good. Other cars on the hard tyre are Bearman and Stroll. They’re P17 and P14. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Copy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | All you can on these tyres. Box, box. Lawson returns to the pit lane and waits at the exit to start the race |
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| Wood | Last car is just approaching the back of the grid now. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 1/56 LAW: 1’48.928 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Race start. Seconds after the field passes by the pit lane exit light turns green and Lawson pulls away to join the race |
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| Wood | Yellow, yellow. Double yellow, okay, all clear. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Mode six, mode six, car behind Hulkenberg. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 2/56 LAW: 1’39.640 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | DRS enabled caution, gravel exit turn eight, the full pack will have been through that. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | It’s 0.8 ahead, 1.2 behind. Display eight when you can. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 3/56 LAW: 1’39.738 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lawson | Yeah, it’s just a train right now. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Yeah, copy that. We’ll have strat three when you can. Strat three. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 5/56 LAW: 1’39.228 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Okay, we see the snaps through the low speed, think about push toggle. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lawson | Copy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | You’re starting to break up a bit. Bearman has lost DRS, he’s the car ahead of you. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lawson | Copy that. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lawson | Honestly, there’s just not a lot I can do following. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 6/56 LAW: 1’39.342 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Okay, copy mate, you know the plan, stick to target. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 7/56 LAW: 1’39.525 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Engine 11 position 7 engine 11 position 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 8/56 LAW: 1’39.177 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | And back to engine seven. So just think about your high-speed management when stuck in traffic, high speed management. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lawson | Copy. Struggling more with the fronts still at the moment. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Copy, is that all speed ranges? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lawson | For now it’s most speed ranges, mostly medium and high speed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 9/56 LAW: 1’39.743 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Display 5, position 5 when you can, display 5, position 5, that’s high speed diff. And we’ll have display 8 and stay active on your mid switch. For reference, your tyres are looking in good condition compared to people, they’re looking good. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | And we’ll have strat 5. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 11/56 LAW: 1’39.152 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | If that display five switch is positive, we have another step. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lawson | Copy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Looks like Gasly has boxed, so this may start to open things up. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | How much are these guys ahead holding you up? How much are they holding you up? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lawson | Quite a bit right now. I can’t get close enough to overtake. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lawson’s race compared to his team mate, the two other drivers who started on hards and Isack Hadjar, who finished one place ahead of him
| Lap: 12/56 LAW: 1’38.927 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Okay, let’s make use of this free air. That’s Bearman ahead. He’s [cuts out] he will be isolated. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lawson | Copy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Balance update when you can. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lawson | Just struggling with the bumps on entry, rear on exit. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 13/56 LAW: 1’39.135 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Okay, recommendation, b-bal six, b-bal six. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Flap update when you can. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lawson | Plus two. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 14/56 LAW: 1’38.801 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Okay car behind now Hamilton, he’s on a fresh hard. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 15/56 LAW: 1’39.705 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Liam let’s cancel tyres, let’s use all the tyre, cancel tyre saving, use all the tyre. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lawson | Okay, copy. Mate I do not have the grip to fight this. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 16/56 LAW: 1’40.219 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Strat three, that’s Max behind. Okay, so Max behind let him through into one. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 17/56 LAW: 1’40.405 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Lawson pulls off-line approaching turn one and backs off, Verstappen passes Thank you. |
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| Wood | Copy your grip comment, we are monitoring options, we are monitoring options | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lawson | Yeah man, I’m using so much of front tyre on entries. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 18/56 LAW: 1’43.770 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Display five, position two, display five, position two, more diff-opening. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | So just confirm, plus two on flap, plus two on flap. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lawson | Yes front wing, but exits are really poor on traction as well. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Okay we’re boxing this lap, box, box. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lawson | Copy, box. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Strat 12 in the pit lane, strat 12. Lawson makes his pit stop, switches to mediums, and pulls away |
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Stint 2: Medium
Bearman and Stroll ran longer opening stints and finished the race with just one more pit stop, which helped them finish in the points. But Lawson was never going to be able to make his medium rubber last 37 laps, and he quickly found his tyres dropped off.
When Bearman made his pit stop and began gaining on Lawson, Red Bull pulled him in for his second pit stop. The Haas driver nonetheless managed to pass him before the end of the lap.
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| Lap: 19/56 LAW: 1’56.168 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Strat 10. Strat 10. Okay, Bortoleto could be alongside, Bortoleto left-hand side. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Okay, display eight, display eight. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lawson | I’m just using so much of the front tyre on exits. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Okay, welll display five, position one, for tip-in diff locking, For tip-in diff locking, display five, position one. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 20/56 LAW: 1’37.699 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Display eight when you can. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 23/56 LAW: 1’37.642 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | First message for five minutes So just to confirm, we’re happy with high-speed management, how is the exit balance? |
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| Lawson | I’m pushing through the fronts a little bit and then I’m getting snaps later on the exit. Low-speed exit’s really poor traction as well. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 25/56 LAW: 1’38.337 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | You see this group ahead are high-to-mid 38s, you are catching them. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 27/56 LAW: 1’38.117 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Car behind now Bearman, he’s a new medium. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lawson | I’m struggling so much at the front. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Yeah, copy that mate. Okay, mate let’s use the tyre now, use the tyre, all you’ve got. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 28/56 LAW: 1’37.626 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Flap update when you can, flap update. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lawson | Probably plus three again but I don’t want to hurt exits on traction | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 29/56 LAW: 1’37.787 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | And preference a hard over a medium? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lawson | Probably hard. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Strat nine, strat nine. Bearman behind has DRS. Mode nine, mode nine. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 30/56 LAW: 1’42.962 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lawson | I’ve got absolutely no front. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Copy, mate. We’re box this lap, box this lap. Bearman passes him at the hairpin, then he pits |
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Stint 3: Hard
Lawson’s first lap out of the pits on his new set of hards was well over a second quicker than Verstappen’s when he emerged from the pits on the same rubber 17 laps earlier and only a tenth of a second slower than Lewis Hamilton’s when he took a second set of hard tyres seven laps later.
The difference was, both those drivers went faster on their subsequent laps. Wood was urging his driver to push the tyre hard on his out-lap, but he couldn’t find more pace, and within half-a-dozen laps he was slower than Verstappen again. After the race finish he said his car’s balance only felt good on his first lap out of the pits.
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| Lap: 31/56 LAW: 1’55.338 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Strap 12 in the pit lane. Strat 12. Lawson makes his pit stop, switches to hards, and pulls away |
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| Wood | Strat nine. Strat nine. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Car ahead, Hulkenberg on 11-lap-old hard tyres. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 32/56 LAW: 1’35.985 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Mate this tyre is very resilient, so we can use the tyre here. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 33/56 LAW: 1’36.308 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Okay, think about torque six for low-speed traction. Torque six for low-speed traction. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 34/56 LAW: 1’36.627 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Mode six, mode six. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lawson | The fronts are really starting to drop, but honestly the rear on exit is so poor. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Copy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 38/56 LAW: 1’36.656 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | I know it’s tough out there, mate, you’re doing a really good job | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lawson | I have no balance, absolutely none. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 39/56 LAW: 1’36.552 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lawson | On tyres, is there anything else I can do? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | We are looking. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 40/56 LAW: 1’36.654 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Best option we’ve got is opening up the mid. Let’s have a look at mid two, mid two. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 41/56 LAW: 1’36.697 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Yeah, I know it’s tough, but you are catching this group ahead of you. Keep them as a target. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Lap: 43/56 LAW: 1’36.653 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Okay, we see high rear slips into six and 14, torque eight, torque eight. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 47/56 LAW: 1’36.804 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Another five-minute silence passes Okay, it’s 10 laps to go. |
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| Lap: 49/56 LAW: 1’36.884 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lawson | Yeah, front is absolutely gone. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Copy. Seven laps to go after this one. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 50/56 LAW: 1’37.441 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | B-bal five, b-bal five. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 54/56 LAW: 1’37.246 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Another five-minute silence passes Okay, three laps to go, that’s minus two on offset, minus two on offset. |
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| Lawson | Copy, I can’t turn the car at all. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Yeah, copy that mate. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Finish
Long, awkward silences characterised Lawson’s final laps in a Red Bull around Shanghai. After taking the chequered flag he apologised to the team for how poorly the race had gone.
| Lap: 56/56 LAW: 1’37.196 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Final lap. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chequered flag | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Okay, recharge on, recharge on. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lawson | Oh my god, man. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Yeah, that was a bit of a slog today. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lawson | Dude, it lasted one lap, balance was good for one lap, and then it’s just, no fronts, and then I can’t get on power. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Yeah, copy that mate. We’ll take lessons. We’ll take lessons from today. We’ve got a fail 84 please. Fail 84. I’ll have pick-up on the way in please. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lawson | Copy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Once you come to stop it’ll be P1 and then just sit tight and I’ll tell you when to go to P0. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | And P0. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wood | Copy. Sorry mate. Honestly I tried everything to help that. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Matthijs (@matthijs)
24th March 2025, 9:27
It’s a downward spiral that all his predecessors had before him. Let’s assume that Verstappen is (say) three tenths quicker than Lawson at this moment, intrinsically. Then add that this car is so difficult to drive that Lawson is yet to extract 3 tenths out of the car. Because he is driving this car both under and over the limit, the tyres are not in the right window, add an extra 3 tenths to that. So now you are facing almost a second of lap time difference between Verstappen and Lawson, and only three tenths of that gap is down to raw speed. The rest is about Lawson not being comfortable in the car. I know it’s just an estimate, but I don’t think that reality is vastly different. Theoretically the Red Bull is faster than the Racing Bull, but a confident Lawson in a Racing Bull is faster than a struggling Lawson in a Red Bull.
I get that the people at Red Bull say that the car is fastest the way it is set up now, but that seems a moot point if the driver is not able to extract that potential. I don’t understand that Red Bull cannot set up the second car more to Lawson’s liking (or Perez, Albon and Gasly before him). Maybe the car will be 2 tenths slower in theory, but according to my raw calculation above, a confident Lawson driving on the limit is 6 tenths faster than he is now. So that is a net gain of 4 tenths a lap and a more confident driver as a bonus.
Tomcat173 (@tomcat173)
24th March 2025, 10:30
I agree with you – some of it will be raw speed, some of it will be confidence and some of it will be over-driving the car.
A number of circumstances are also against Lawson – including the fact that he hasn’t raced at the first 14 tracks on the calendar before (with the exception of Suzuka); the Red Bull being edgy and can only be driven quickly by a 4 time champion; the cars being at the end of this cycle of regulations so the entire field is very close; the Racing Bulls being very competitive this year.. plus from a driver perspective: he’s up against one of the quickest drivers in the field; he’s replacing Checo (who had to be paid out); Lawson ‘jumping the line’ and being selected over a more experienced Tsunoda; and Lawson being selected on the basis of being ‘mentally strong’.
I’m sure he hasn’t forgotten how to drive. It’s an absolute nightmare scenario for him. He’s reached the pinnacle of motor racing at 23.. and his career might already be over.
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
24th March 2025, 12:09
Look at Hadjar’s qualifying performance with a car that he’s also not familiar with. Something’s off with that Red Bull.
Chris Horton
24th March 2025, 12:35
Yet so many were happy to pan Perez and disregard the evidence of a decade long career that shows he’s actually a very very good driver.
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
24th March 2025, 18:15
yes, I took a lot of flak the last 2 seasons defending Checo and saying that while Verstappen may have been slightly faster, Checo would not have been that far behind if he were driving another car like the Alpine in Brazil.
Dane
25th March 2025, 0:11
Perez at his lows last year was at least getting a few points. Whatever is wrong with that car, Perez at least gets something out of it.
Jojo
24th March 2025, 12:13
Isn’t this what they tried for the race and why they started from the pitlane? They wanted to try and make the setup more comfortable for him. Unfortunately it meant the car was even slower and Lawson was unable to make progress. He was faster in the sprint than the main grand prix, so he probably would have been better off leaving the setup alone.
Matthijs (@matthijs)
24th March 2025, 13:04
Albon described it once beautifully: driving the Red Bull with Max’ setup is like gaming with the mouse set on maximum sensitivity. A quick fix before the race cannot help that. If they want the second Red Bull driver to be faster, more consistent and more confident, Red Bull needs to work on more rear stability. Al least that is what I think, as a bystander without the knowledge.
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
24th March 2025, 18:19
@matthijs yet, when I watch Verstappen drive the Red Bull, I don’t see a car that’s unstable. For me, the Red Bull has been the pinnacle of aerodynamic stability over the past decade. I’ve seen that car do things that just made no sense including the overtake on Perez’s car at Spa on the straight which is supposed to be the same car. If it were unstable, Max would have certainly lost it and had to correct or been afraid to overtake in a corner but I think he knew the car could perform miracles compared to the rest of the grid and it did.
Matthijs (@matthijs)
24th March 2025, 21:03
I don’t know if the car is unstable or not. You could be right. Actually this race Lawson was complaining about his front tyres, not the rear but this coule be down to tyre pressures. I just took Albon’s words, because he experienced the car characteristics first hand (although a while ago), so I trust him on this.
I am not sure with what you suggest with ‘is supposed to be the same car’. What I do not believe is that Red Bull and/or the Verstappens deliberately sabotage the second car. I don’t see the bigger picture for that to benificial and there is also zero proof of that.
Derek Edwards
24th March 2025, 9:56
It’s intriguing to me how they will deal with this in the event that Max does decide to leave the team. Is the concept for the 2026 car already concentrated on being Max-specific and, if he goes, how do they alter that approach, especially with young drivers who have no confidence in how to develop the car or, it seems, in their own abilities?
An Sionnach
24th March 2025, 10:59
I think what they do is develop a car and then make it pointier and pointier until their best driver can no longer drive it. Depending on the starting point for the 2026 car, it might be fine. Not having a driver would be an issue, though.
MikePrice
24th March 2025, 9:59
They picked Lawson because of Tsunoda’s temperament. Watching Lawson drive is painful, partly it is down to his driving style, he doesn’t turn in and he was so slow in t1 and on the double left and t13.
Do we think Tsunoda is that much faster that it would make a huge difference?
I think the new rookies this year show RB they have nothing to lose because unlike Lawson, the C tier Doohan is animated behind the wheel, he turns-in he is not afraid of the rear, same goes for Antonelli, these kids are rough but they explore the grip, they explore the track limits. Rb perhaps need a young confident, completely blank, canvas. They have nothing to lose.
OOliver
24th March 2025, 11:03
Antonelli is not your regular rookie. He has covered more miles in the same team than probably all the other rookies combined.
Ces
24th March 2025, 16:12
Kimi has done more than 10,000 km (more than 20 complete GP) in previous F1 cars before the start of 2025 testing.
Alianora La Canta (@alianora-la-canta)
24th March 2025, 11:16
Except whoever they promote – Liam Lawson was exactly as you describe until he got the Red Bull, which it turns out can’t be driven that way.
MikePrice
24th March 2025, 12:52
@alianora-la-canta No, if you check old onboards Lawson’s driving style is the same as before. He isn’t a blank canvas he is trying to drive as he’s used to. They need a true rookie.
Patrick (@paeschli)
24th March 2025, 13:07
All this team we’ve been thinking Red Bull is promoting drivers too early while actually they are promoting drivers too late!
Scott (@scott6428)
24th March 2025, 17:20
The key seems to be to find a driver with a similar driving style to max, regardless of who was faster in other cars or junior formula. They need a driver who’s fast in the red bull as is.
Tony Mansell (@tonymansell)
24th March 2025, 10:36
Oh dear, its horrible seeing this happen to him. A slow motion car crash of a career imploding before your eyes. I hope he gets the RB seat and goes a little bit low profile to improve his confidence because one more race like this and he might not get it back.
PEDRO T
24th March 2025, 10:41
Lawson and Tsunoda should be replaced.
Tsunoda has made it to Q3 in the last three races, including the sprint race.
If Tsunoda cannot even get through Q1, then the car which no one but Verstappen can drive should be judged as defective and used for future development.
Tsunoda will probably be tested in one or two races, and if he fails, he will be replaced again.
If Tsunoda can make it to Q3, it will mean that Lawson is the cause and Tsunoda may be able to keep his seat.
Ankita
24th March 2025, 11:18
It is heartbreaking to see this because he obviously have more than this. But at the same time, I remember his (unnecessary) middle finger in Mexico, many of his comments, his fight with Alonso and I am not sure I feel for him. If he has this behaviour but then perfoms beautifully, then you can condone him. But if not, then out.
nunof
24th March 2025, 11:54
Company culture…
Patrick (@paeschli)
24th March 2025, 13:09
All those things are pretty harmless. He’s been very professional this year: his comments on the team radio are very detailed and descriptive.
bernasaurus (@bernasaurus)
24th March 2025, 11:32
To borrow from The Thick of It approach to management;
Firing an employee after one season means they Fubbed up.
Firing an employee after two races means you Fubbed up.
Tony Mansell (@tonymansell)
24th March 2025, 11:52
Haha, good one. I dont think they’d disagree. Always seemed a strange choice but better be wrong and change it than do nothing and expect it to change without any clue that it might
Alesici
27th March 2025, 11:09
Absolutely nailed it bernasaurus, nice comment.
Ferdi
24th March 2025, 11:49
Given results of the past I fear Yuki will also fail miserably. Either the RedBull is a worse car vs what everyone thinks (and Max can’t be bothered and distracts from it anyway) or it is catered to only suit Max. Either way, no matter who you put in that 2nd seat, it won’t work. If Max then leaves the team they have nothing. Must be alarming to them internally. I hope for them they are working on a plan B.
Sonny Crockett (@sonnycrockett)
24th March 2025, 12:49
Red Bull might be struggling?!
Cue the world’s smallest violin, playing just for them!
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
24th March 2025, 18:07
@sonnycrockett :-) which sonnet should they play?
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
24th March 2025, 12:11
Look at Piastri and Norris this weekend with a 1-2 – when was the last time Red Bull scored a convincing 1-2? Their car was from a different category until the change last year.
MichaelN
24th March 2025, 12:55
Three times early last year. Then came Imola and their “upgrade” and the car had been like this ever since. Something odd happened there for sure.
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
24th March 2025, 18:06
Yeah definitely something changed and it definitely affected Perez more than Verstappen and perhaps that was the intent. Manufacturers don’t stay with much worse performing upgrades unless the FIA mandates them.
Karl Fuss
24th March 2025, 19:22
Perez did it a dozen times i think over the previous 3 seasons… but before that it was Riccardo. No Gasly or Albon 1-2
Sonny Crockett (@sonnycrockett)
24th March 2025, 12:52
This is what happens when you create an (allegedly) toxic culture, support the Team Principal who (allegedly) was part of that culture, and scare off your once in a generation, genius aerodynamicist/car designer.
Oxnard (@montalvo)
24th March 2025, 16:03
Ah yes, let’s ignore that the core of the issues already emerged in 2023, when their car reached a ceiling but Verstappen was able to drive around these issues and extract more out of the car than the average driver would. But since it was so far ahead of the competition it wasn’t a big concern for the engineering team. The 2024 RB20 is also a Newey car, a car that had the same issues as their current car, also at the start of the season. Again it got unnoticed because other teams hadn’t catched up yet.
Newey’s concept of lots of anti-dive to maintain downforce form the floor when diving into a corner has just reached it’s ceiling. On a ‘short’ term it was by far the best solution, but after three years other teams have found a way to maintain that floor downforce without having to sacrifice as much front load. The solution is years of trial and error on flexible wings, which allows you to have a more snappy car, because you do not have to put as much anti-dive on that car, plus it reduces drag.
After Spain the world may look a lot different again, as McLaren will have to remove downforce to compensate for their flexible wings, else they will lose too much on the straights.
mundane_dominatrix
26th March 2025, 9:54
I know it’s now a trend to try and cope with that rocket of a McLaren car by saying they still have the original “mini-DRS”, but as we’ve seen from the “first-week reg change” between Australia and China, McLaren did not have to change anything on their car to match these regulations, in fact, many midfielders had to perform changes, no top teams.
I hope this might be a competitive season though, I’d just like to warn all of us fearing a boring McL dominant season that the Spain-regs might not be just the solution for our pain. :D
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
24th March 2025, 18:12
Spot on Sonny!
And those compliments may not be enough to describe Newey’s domination in the sport.
Alec Glen (@alec-glen)
24th March 2025, 13:11
I think a lot of Red Bull’s issues show how difficult an engineering challenge having a truly adaptable driver can be (and if you look up and down the pit lane, very few adapt lines even). Engineers are all about performance, pushing the envelope, and Max can probably both overperform and drag performance out of it that others can’t. Red Bull engineers must be constantly in these feedback cycles where they find performance but it isn’t really there, like fools gold almost, as it’s not replicable or isn’t built on something they fully understand. I for one don’t envy them in the slightest.
Patrick (@paeschli)
24th March 2025, 15:41
Focusing on feedback from their number 2 driver is the obvious solution, but it seems like they will not consider that for fear of Verstappen’s wrath.
Jim from US (@jimfromus)
24th March 2025, 14:24
Can VER leave Red Bull? If the car is tailored to him and no other driver in F1 can drive it, will another team bring in an “aging” VER and build a car for him? Drivers that have failed at Red Bull have success driving standard F1 cars so it is definitely the car and not the drivers.
An Milne
24th March 2025, 17:01
Correct me if im wrong but don’t RBs struggles correlate strongly with the fia blocking of uneven breaking levels that generating torque-steer?
j_olivier
24th March 2025, 22:00
Yes. And wasn’t that the change that didn’t come until several races later -like they discovered that in Miami and it was prohibited from Italy onwards because “the teams could’t make the change immediately”? Buy RB made it, Pérez car wasn’t using such system from the very next race while Max’s car kept using it for months.
WesselV1
24th March 2025, 17:17
From a scientific point of view, Verstappen should go to RB. It would provide so many answers.
Jason Blankenship (@jblank)
24th March 2025, 17:25
They should have never punted Albion from the 2nd car.
Phil Norman (@phil-f1-21)
25th March 2025, 19:20
There’s only one thing for it. Get Ricciardo back and put him up against Max. I am not entirely joking either. Both they and he have nothing to lose do they. If he struggled a bit in the Racing Bull he might love the actual Red Bull.