logo
F1 Liam Lawson tries to set the record straight after brutal Red Bull demotion, Yuki Tsunoda, Max Verstappen

F1 Liam Lawson tries to set the record straight after brutal Red Bull demotion, Yuki Tsunoda, Max Verstappen

Daily Telegraph2 days ago
Don't miss out on the headlines from F1. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Liam Lawson says he wasn't given time to prove himself at Red Bull Racing before his brutal sacking just two rounds into the season.
Lawson was drafted up from Racing Bulls to replace the out-of-favour Sergio Pérez this season, but dire results at the opening Australian and Chinese grands prix convinced Red Bull Racing management to make an emergency change, sending him back to Faenza in exchange for Yuki Tsunoda.
Fox Sports, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every practice, qualifying session and race in the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship™ LIVE in 4K. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.
It was a ruthlessly early move on the Kiwi, who had started just 13 races when he was dropped ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix.
Speaking to the F1 website at the halfway mark of the season, Lawson argued that while he accepted his results were poor, he was never given a chance to prove his underperformance was down to insufficient preparation rather than skill.
Liam Lawson has spoken out about his demotion. (Photo by)
'I was well aware that those results weren't good enough, but I was just focused on improving, fixing and learning, basically,' he said. 'I was in the same mindset as I have been since I came into F1.
'I think that was the biggest thing going into a team like that, in a car like that it was going to take a bit of time to adjust and learn.
'With no proper testing, the issues in testing, the issues in Melbourne through practice, it wasn't smooth and clean.
'I needed time, and I wasn't given it.'
Tsunoda's struggles in his seat have cast Lawson's difficulties in a new light. While the Kiwi's results were considerably poorer, the well-regarded Japanese driver has yet to make a breakthrough with the difficult RB21.
Yuki Tsunoda has had his own issues in the top team. (Photo by)
On average his results have been similar to those that had Pérez sent packing with two years to run on his contract at the end of last year.
But the fact Tsunoda has been unable to perform — despite having been in sizzling form at Racing Bulls in 2024 and the first two rounds of 2025 — has finally forced the team to reckon with a more deeply seated problem than just its second driver.
For years the design department has developed an increasingly niche car.
Max Verstappen, his abilities preternatural, has been able to master it, but the mere mortal drivers partnered with him have endured greater and greater difficulties behind the wheel.
This year even Verstappen has been unable to deliver consistent performances in the car, completing the team's rapid descent from dominant title winner in 2023 to also-ran just two years later.
Tsunoda will be given at least until the end of the season, after which the prevalent assumption is he'll be moved on, though a fresh tack under new principal Laurent Mekies could yet change the game.
A series of drivers have struggled to partner Max Verstappen. (Photo by)
The subsequent events reframed Lawson's struggles — and not just his; Pérez, Alex Albon and Pierre Gasly could all claim some credit back here — in less harsh terms.
It's cold comfort for the Kiwi, however, whose career flipped from dazzlingly ascendant to alarmingly precarious less than a fortnight into the season.
With Red Bull's next young gun, Arvid Lindblad, in line for promotion to Formula 1 next season, what should have been a dream season could yet turn into a nightmare.
Despite Christian Horner, the then Red Bull Racing principal, having claimed Lawson's demotion was an exercise in its 'duty of care to protect and develop Liam', his results remained stubbornly unimpressive upon his return to Racing Bulls.
There are several elements that have gone into making him look more ordinary than expected.
Former boss Christian Horner (right) and the team fell on much harder times in recent years. (Photo by)
One is the acclimatisation process.
Being thrown from one car to another in the middle of the season is always difficult, and after having struggled with an interrupted pre-season program at Red Bull Racing, having no pre-season at all with Racing Bulls made that challenge steeper.
The other is that his teammate, Isack Hadjar, is arguably the standout rookie of the season. The Frenchman has been especially impressive in qualifying, and given the tightness of the midfield, that's made his Sunday results more impressive too.
It's been easy to conclude a third reason — that Lawson, after being chewed up and spat out by one of F1's grandees in just two grands prix – had his confidence shattered.
Pérez, after all, looked like a broken man in his final months at Red Bull Racing.
Lawson, however, denies that psychology has played a role.
'I haven't really talked much about it because I think for a big part of this year I've just ignored everything that happened and I've just focused on trying to drive the car, but I know there was a lot of stuff that went out that was speculation about how I was feeling,' he said.
'My confidence hasn't changed since the start of the year to now.
'One thing to be clear about is that between the first couple of races, to the team switch, then going to Japan, mentally for me nothing changed.
'It's been very heavily speculated that my confidence took a hit and stuff like this, which is completely false. From the start of the year I felt the same as I always have.
'I think in two races, on tracks I'd never been to, it's not really enough for my confidence [to suffer].
'Maybe six months into a season if I'm still at that level, if the results are still like that, then I'd be feeling something, maybe my confidence would be taking a hit.'
Lawson may not have got the time he deserved at Red Bull Racing to make an impression, but he has 12 more grands prix to state his case in a car capable of occasional big results.
The pressure's on, but it's up to him to prove he's equal to the challenge.
Originally published as Liam Lawson tries to set the record straight after brutal Red Bull demotion
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

What Maroons' forward contender Kulikefu Finefeuiaki said to inspire the Ipswich SHS's latest Aussie schoolboy representative
What Maroons' forward contender Kulikefu Finefeuiaki said to inspire the Ipswich SHS's latest Aussie schoolboy representative

News.com.au

time4 hours ago

  • News.com.au

What Maroons' forward contender Kulikefu Finefeuiaki said to inspire the Ipswich SHS's latest Aussie schoolboy representative

At Ipswich SHS's pre-season launch of the school's rugby league season, Dolphins ace and Ipswich SHS past captain Kulikefu Finefeuiaki took current Ipswich skipper Xzavier Timoteo aside from a chat. They laughed and they joked, hamming it up on a celebration of the Ipswich SHS rugby league community. But two words of advice Finefeuiaki struck a match with Timoteo, the Sydney Roosters-signed prop who was named in the Australian schoolboys side last Saturday. One related to the importance of hitting Roosters pre-season training at the end of the year as fit as he could possibly be. The other piece of advice related to maintaining a good diet, which struck a cord given Timoteo was once a 'small, fat kid.'' 'I was. You can ask the coaches. I was very over weight in Years 7, 8 and 9,'' said Timoteo, a lover of his mum's lasagne and potato bake. But with encouragement from the Ipswich SHS teacher, Timoteo transformed himself into one of the most feared forwards in his age group. Indeed the coaches have helped make Timoteo into the player - and person - he is today. 'My coaches are more like my big brothers. They will always take time out of their day to help you,'' he said. Timoteo also has Finefeuiaki's desire to run hard, or 'run the bust'' as he calls it. 'I've learnt to do it. It (running hard) has come with confidence probably.'' With advice from Finefeuiaki ringing in his ears, Timoteo, the Souths Acacia Ridge Magpies junior, shone for the Queensland schoolboys recently and was one of five young Maroons to make the Aussie schoolboys side. The other were Mountain Creek SHS middle forward Jackson Koina (Parramatta), PBC SHS Kiwi centre recruit Antonie Verhoeven (Broncos), Marsden SHS hooker ace Hayden Watson (Storm) and Keebra Park SHS's New Zealand eligible fullback, David Bryenton (Canterbury Bulldogs, 18th man). The Australian schoolboys squad: 1. Cameron Bamblett (Parramatta Eels) 2. Filipe Fakauaho (Sydney Roosters) 3. Toby Winter (Newcastle Knights) 4. Dayne Jennings (South Sydney Rabbitohs) 5. Antonie Verhoeven (Brisbane Broncos) 6. Callum Grantham (Cronulla Sharks) 7. Toby Batten (The Dolphins) 8. Jackson Koina (Parramatta) 9. Liam Bell (Sydney Roosters) 10. Jake White (Cronulla Sharks) 11. Pheonix Godinet (Wests Tigers) 12. Darcy Smith (Sydney Roosters) 13. Thomas Dellow (Cronulla Sharks) Interchange 14. Hayden Watson (Melbourne Storm) 15. Roman Tuaimau (Canberra Raiders) 16. Xzavier Timoteo (Sydney Roosters) 17. Christoper Petrus (Parramatta Eels) 18. David Bryenton (Canterbury Bulldogs)

‘It's not good news': Storm face crucial call at halfback as premiership favourites deal with Jahrome Hughes' shoulder injury
‘It's not good news': Storm face crucial call at halfback as premiership favourites deal with Jahrome Hughes' shoulder injury

News.com.au

time4 hours ago

  • News.com.au

‘It's not good news': Storm face crucial call at halfback as premiership favourites deal with Jahrome Hughes' shoulder injury

Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy says his side won't be able to completely recover regardless of who comes in to replace Jahrome Hughes next week as the club sweats on scans to determine the severity of the halfback's shoulder injury. Hughes left the field just minutes into the second half of Melbourne's gutsy 34-30 win over the Roosters with the club confirming immediately that he'd dislocated his shoulder after landing awkwardly while making a tackle on James Tedesco. The reigning Dally M Medal winner was in agony and had to be helped off Allianz Stadium, with Melbourne's medical staff unable to put it back in. Confirmation Jahrome Hughes has injured his shoulder and won’t return tonight. He is going to hospital for assessment and pain relief. We will provide another update as soon as we can ðŸ'œ — Melbourne Storm (@storm) July 24, 2025 'He's gone to the hospital and the doctor has gone with him. We're not really sure (how bad it is) but it's dislocated and they couldn't get it (back) in here so he'll probably have to go under to get it back in,' Bellamy said after the game. 'Whether he's got a crack in it as well or whether (it's something else) we might not find out until tomorrow, but you'd like to think they'll get it back in tonight. 'It's not good news, but we're not sure the severity of it until he has an X-ray or a scan. 'I experienced it myself. I had both my shoulders reconstructed. 'I think the longer they're out, it's a bigger problem. The longer it's out, the more it stretches the ligaments and the muscles around the joint. I don't think it's overly good news.' Storm indicate Jahrome Hughes suffered a dislocated shoulder - textbook mechanism landing on outstretched arm. General recovery guide: - minimal structural damage/joint stable: trial rehab for 3-6 weeks - significant damage/joint unstable: reco surgery & 3+ months — NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) July 24, 2025 Hughes has had shoulder issues in the past and will miss the rest of the season if scans confirm the worst. It would be a huge blow for the premiership favourites who bravely fought on without him as skipper Harry Grant stood tall with superstars Cameron Munster, Ryan Papenhuyzen and Nelson Asofa-Solomona also missing. Hughes had already set up a try and was starting to look threatening in attack before he was forced off, with the result moving them back into second spot for now. 'I reckon it was just getting to the stage of the game where he would have started doing a bit more running,' Bellamy said. 'The back end of the first half he started doing a bit of running and he was causing some issues for the Roosters defence. 'No one wants to lose their halfback. He's a massive part of our footy team.' Bellamy has two clear options for next week's game against the Eels, with Tyran Wishart and Jonah Pezet the men most likely to partner Munster in the halves. Wishart played five-eighth on Thursday night and filled in admirably in the halves last season while Munster was out injured, while Pezet is a more traditional halfback but has played just two NRL games off the bench this year after returning from a serious knee injury. 'We'll give someone else a chance,' Bellamy said. 'Munster should be back next week, and with 'Wish' and 'Pez', he's only a young kid who hasn't had much first grade experience at all. But he's a good organiser and kicker. 'We'll see what we think is best for the team. 'Mun' will come back in and then we'll go from there. 'We probably won't recover completely because he was the Dally M player of the year last year. However long he's out for, we're going to miss him.'

Melbourne lose Jahrome Hughes to shoulder injury in epic 34-30 win over Sydney Roosters
Melbourne lose Jahrome Hughes to shoulder injury in epic 34-30 win over Sydney Roosters

ABC News

time6 hours ago

  • ABC News

Melbourne lose Jahrome Hughes to shoulder injury in epic 34-30 win over Sydney Roosters

Melbourne have scored an epic 34-30 win over the Roosters but paid a heavy price for their triumph with star halfback Jahrome Hughes suffering a shoulder dislocation. Hughes' left shoulder was hurt when he attempted to make a tackle on Roosters fullback James Tedesco early in the second half. He will go for scans on Friday morning. Despite losing the reigning Dally M winner and already being without Ryan Papenhuyzen and Cameron Munster, the Storm ended up on top in a high-scoring encounter thanks to a stellar performance from Harry Grant. The Queensland and Australian hooker scored a try and set up two more, including the winner by prop Stefano Utoikamanu. Follow the live blog below, keep up to date with all the latest stats in our ScoreCentre, and tune in to our live radio coverage.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store