Liam Lawson only raced two Grands Prix for the Red Bull team before he was ruthlessly replaced by Yuki Tsunoda. Formula 1 star Carlos Sainz Jr, who himself once started his career within the Red Bull ranks, can relate to the relentless Austrian team leadership. Therefore, he finds it little surprising that Lawson has already been sacked, although he also hints that it may not be the best approach.
“It’s hardly surprising if you ask me,” Sainz responded to Liam Lawson’s exit in an interview with Sky Sports. “This is just the way Red Bull handles things. We’ve seen it countless times over the past ten years. This is how Red Bull operates,” he continued somewhat critically. “One day you get a chance, and the next day, if you don’t do exactly what is expected of you, you drop a notch on the ladder. That’s how it goes at Red Bull, it’s nothing new.”
“Everyone then says that it’s the toughest job in Formula 1 to sit next to Max (Verstappen),” Sainz said about Lawson’s role. “Also because Max knows that car inside and out. I couldn’t care less,” he concluded indifferently. “I’m happy with my current position and have a bright future perspective. I can’t wait to see where we end up with Williams.”
‘Lawson was given a great opportunity’
Alexander Albon, another Red Bull alumnus, knows just like Sainz how things work at Red Bull and can empathize with Lawson’s situation. After the 2020 season, the British-Thai driver was unceremoniously replaced by Sergio Pérez. “I think Lawson was given a great opportunity,” he added. “If I were in his shoes, I would feel a tremendous amount of determination and courage. Now you want to prove how hard you can fight back.”
“I think he can pull off a great stunt – he just needs to own this,” Albon continued. “He has enough talent to make it happen. Now he can put himself back on the radar with other teams. I doubt he needs it, but this is a nice moment to take it a bit easier and stay true to himself. He’s going to do very well.”
