Liam Lawson has revealed his “shock” at being dropped by Red Bull, as team principal Christian Horner explained the reasons for making a “horrible” decision.
Red Bull last week remarkably decided to demote Lawson to their junior squad Racing Bulls just two races into his first campaign with the team, with Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda promoted ahead of his home race this weekend.
The decision was made little more than three months after Lawson had been selected over Tsunoda as reigning world champion Max Verstappen’s team-mate, following poor performances from the New Zealander in Australia and China.
Speaking exclusively to Sky Sports F1 in Tokyo on Wednesday, Lawson said: “It was definitely a shock, honestly. It’s not something that I saw coming.
“The discussions we were having as well, I think, weren’t really leaning in this direction, so it was definitely not something that I sort of expected.”
Red Bull have developed a ruthless reputation for making mid-season changes to their driver line-ups, but the speed of the team’s latest switch was completely unprecedented.
While Lawson’s struggles during the opening two rounds were extreme, both came at circuits where he had no experience and many within the paddock were therefore left stunned that the team didn’t wait to see him in action at a track he was more familiar with, such as Suzuka.
Asked whether he was frustrated at the lack of time he was afforded, Lawson said: “Honestly, yes. Obviously, I would have loved more time.
“And I felt like with more time, especially going to places that I’d been before… it was a tough start. We had a rocky testing. We had a rocky first weekend in Melbourne with practice. And then obviously China was a Sprint.
“I think going to places that I’d been before with the way the car was quite tricky, I think that would have helped and I would have loved that opportunity. But obviously, it’s not my decision, so I’m here to make the most of this one.”
Also speaking exclusively to Sky Sports F1 on Wednesday, Horner took responsibility for asking “too much too soon” from the 23-year-old.
“Of course, it’s horrible because you’re taking away someone’s dreams and aspirations, but sometimes you’ve got to be cruel to be kind, and I think that in this instance, this is not the end for Liam.
“I was very clear with him, is that it’s a sample of two races. I think that we’ve asked too much of you too soon.”
“We have to accept, I think we were asking too much of him too soon. And so this is for him to, again, nurture that talent that we know that he has, back in the Racing Bulls seat, whilst giving Yuki the opportunity and looking to make use of the experience that he has.”
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