Liam Lawson admitted he was `shocked` by Red Bull`s decision to remove him from his racing position. Team principal Christian Horner described the choice as `horrible` but explained the reasons behind it.
Just two races into Lawson`s first season with Red Bull, the team decided to move him back to their junior team, Racing Bulls. Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda was promoted to take his place, just before his home race this weekend.
This decision comes shortly after Lawson was chosen over Tsunoda to be Max Verstappen`s teammate. This previous selection was made due to Tsunoda`s poor performances in races in Australia and China.
Speaking to Sky Sports F1 in Tokyo, Lawson said, `It was definitely a shock, honestly. I really didn`t see it coming.` He added that the discussions he had been involved in hadn`t suggested this outcome, making the decision unexpected.
Red Bull is known for making quick changes to their driver lineups during a season. However, this latest change happened with unusual speed.
Although Lawson struggled in the first two races, these were at tracks where he lacked experience. Many people in Formula 1 were surprised that Red Bull didn`t wait to see how he performed at a track he knew better, like Suzuka.
Lawson expressed frustration at not being given more time. He felt that with more races, especially at familiar circuits, he would have improved. He acknowledged a difficult start with car testing and the first race in Melbourne, followed by a Sprint format race in China. He believed that racing at tracks he knew, with more time to adjust to the car, would have been beneficial. However, he accepted that the decision was not his to make and he would focus on his current situation.
Horner: We Asked Too Much of Lawson Too Soon
While Lawson`s demotion is certainly disappointing for him, it also reflects poorly on Horner and Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko, who are ultimately responsible for driver choices.
Lawson had only participated in 11 Grands Prix when he was chosen over Tsunoda.
Horner took responsibility for putting too much pressure on Lawson too quickly. He acknowledged the difficulty of taking away a driver`s dream but emphasized it wasn`t the end for Lawson. Horner clarified that this was based on a small sample of two races and that they had asked too much of Lawson too soon.
Horner explained that the team needs to improve the car and utilize Tsunoda`s experience. Meanwhile, Lawson needs to rebuild his confidence and skills at Racing Bulls in a less pressured environment.
Red Bull`s car has appeared challenging to drive at the start of this season. Verstappen himself struggled to second place in Australia and fourth in China.
Horner stated that the need to quickly develop the RB21 was a key factor in promoting the more experienced Tsunoda, who has four seasons of F1 experience.
`We`ve got work to do with the car,` Horner said. `We need to improve it and use Yuki`s experience.` He added that Lawson should use his time at Racing Bulls to regain his form in a less demanding setting than Red Bull Racing.
Engineers Were Concerned About Lawson
Horner revealed that both he and the engineers were concerned about Lawson`s mental state and how he was dealing with the pressure. He noted that Lawson seemed to be struggling significantly in Australia and China.
While Lawson has talent and might have improved over half a season, Horner felt they didn`t have that much time to wait. The engineering team was particularly worried about the pressure Lawson was under. Horner concluded that demoting Lawson was the logical decision.
Lawson maintains that his driving style wasn`t the issue with the RB21. He believes he simply needed more time to adapt. He explained that Formula 1 weekends are very different from pre-season testing, where drivers have more time to adjust. He felt that the limited time in the car during race weekends made it difficult to adapt to the car`s characteristics. He reiterated that it was a matter of needing time to adjust, not a problem with his driving style itself.
Verstappen Surprised by Speed of Decision
There was speculation that Max Verstappen was unhappy with the situation. However, Horner dismissed the idea that this decision would negatively affect Verstappen.
Horner mentioned that Verstappen was surprised by the speed of the decision but also understood Lawson`s difficulties. Verstappen is focused on working with the engineers to improve the car and close the gap to teams like McLaren.
Verstappen is expected to share his views on the situation during media interviews before the Japanese Grand Prix.
Gilbert Pendleton 
Wesley Dunham