Lawson’s poor form opens the door for rising star Isack Hadjar, as Red Bull quietly weighs its next bold driver move.
Liam Lawson’s future with Red Bull Racing is already looking uncertain as whispers grow louder about a potential replacement—and his name is Isack Hadjar.
While Max Verstappen continues his dominant campaign for a fifth straight world title, Lawson has struggled to make his mark. After a shaky debut in Australia, he posted the slowest times again in Shanghai, raising serious concerns within the team.
“It takes time,” the 23-year-old admitted, “but unfortunately, I don’t have that luxury. The car’s performance window is so tight, and I keep missing it.”
Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher didn’t mince words: “Lawson looks like just another name on Verstappen’s growing list of teammates. His confidence seems to be cracking. When a young driver starts saying he doesn’t have time, it suggests things behind the scenes aren’t going well.”
Red Bull advisor Dr. Helmut Marko echoed that sentiment, making it clear that the team can’t afford to carry a backmarker in a title fight.
“We’ll discuss things calmly,” Marko said. “But we have a few strong drivers waiting in the wings. Thankfully, we’re not short on talent.”
One of those talents is 19-year-old Frenchman Isack Hadjar, who has turned heads with his early performances.
“Let’s focus on the positive,” said Marko. “Isack has never driven on this circuit before, yet he’s clocking incredible lap times in just his second race—and without a single mistake. Yuki [Tsunoda] is doing well too, but he’s in his fifth season. Isack is brand new and already putting in stunning performances.”
Marko acknowledged Hadjar’s crash in Australia but brushed it off. “These things happen. It’s happened to others before. What matters is the pace—and Isack has shown flashes of something special.”
Just last week, Marko had criticized Hadjar for getting emotional after his Australian crash, calling his tears “embarrassing.” But now, the tone seems to have shifted.
Asked directly whether a driver change is on the table, Marko didn’t hesitate: “Yes—if Lawson doesn’t deliver the level of performance we expect. That’s what it comes down to.”
“We’ll review the weekend carefully and make our decision. But for now, Liam is clearly behind where he needs to be.”
- Discover More>Horner and Brown Pay Tribute to Eddie Jordan: The Man Who Backed Talent
- Follow us on >Facebook and >Twitter for F1 updates
Hadjar stuns as Red Bull questions Lawson’s F1 future Hadjar stuns as Red Bull questions Lawson’s F1 future
