Horner Reveals Lawsons Final Sacrifice for Red Bull
In a dramatic turn of events during the 2025 Formula 1 season, Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner has unveiled the behind-the-scenes story of Liam Lawson’s final contribution to the team—a calculated sacrifice that could be pivotal in solving the performance struggles of the RB21.
Lawson’s Sacrificial Role in China
During the Chinese Grand Prix, Liam Lawson found himself at the back of the grid after a tough qualifying session with the underperforming RB21. Rather than accept a likely fruitless race, Red Bull took a bold decision: Lawson would start from the pit lane with a radically altered car setup—deliberately stepping outside of parc fermé regulations to test new parameters that had never been tried in a race scenario.
“We made the decision to take him off the grid, out of parc fermé, to try some radical changes on the setup,” Horner confirmed. “It gave us 56 laps of invaluable data on a completely different setup philosophy.”
The gamble paid off—not in points, but in progress. Lawson crossed the line 12th, aided by a few disqualifications ahead of him. More importantly, Red Bull gained critical insights into how they could potentially unlock the RB21’s elusive balance and grip issues that have plagued the early season.
Replaced by Tsunoda: A Brutal but Tactical Call
Despite his efforts and willingness to be the team’s testbed, Lawson was abruptly replaced by Yuki Tsunoda ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix. The move was met with both confusion and criticism within the paddock and fanbase alike.
Horner justified the switch by emphasizing the need for seasoned feedback. “We have a duty of care to protect and develop Liam,” he said. “At this stage, the car is difficult to drive, and we believe Yuki’s experience will help us accelerate development.”
It’s a pragmatic decision, but one that has sparked a wave of backlash. Tsunoda brings more F1 mileage, sure—but Lawson’s form and team-first mindset had many expecting more faith from Red Bull.
Verstappen’s Disapproval & Lawson’s Emotional Response
One of the most telling responses came from Max Verstappen himself. The reigning world champion subtly expressed discontent with the decision by liking a social media post critical of Red Bull’s treatment of Lawson—an unusual move for a driver who typically stays clear of internal drama.
Lawson, on the other hand, took the high road. Posting a series of childhood photos on Instagram, he wrote a heartfelt message to his supporters: “Grateful for the opportunity. Every lap was a dream, and every challenge a lesson. Onwards.”
His message resonated across the F1 TV community, painting a picture of a young driver who, despite the disappointment, remains mature and focused on the long game.
What It Means for Red Bull Moving Forward
The RB21 has not been the dominant force many expected. Lawson’s sacrificial run in China, though devoid of immediate results, may go down as a turning point for the team’s engineering direction.
Red Bull’s readiness to test radical changes in a race setting—something rarely done—underscores the urgency in Milton Keynes. Horner’s revelation suggests that behind the scenes, every race is not just about points, but data.
With Yuki Tsunoda now in the seat and Red Bull engineers poring over Lawson’s race telemetry, the next few Grands Prix could reveal whether this bold strategy pays off.
