Liam Lawson’s swift Red Bull exit exposes the harsh truth, talent alone isn’t enough when attitude outpaces performance on the grid.
When you talk the talk, you’d better walk the walk. That’s the message Juan Pablo Montoya is sending to Liam Lawson after the young driver’s rapid fall from grace at Red Bull.
Lawson’s demotion after just two races has sparked plenty of chatter across the F1 paddock. And while former world champion Jacques Villeneuve already called him out for arrogance, Montoya isn’t holding back either.
“Right now, his reputation’s taken a hit,” Montoya told the press. “You see the memes online—he’s coming off as very arrogant. And sure, a little arrogance is fine. But if you’re going to act like that, you need to back it up with results. That didn’t happen. This was a real slap in the face.”
Montoya went further, referencing an incident last season when Lawson gave Sergio Pérez the middle finger, suggesting the tables have now turned.
“Mexican fans are loving this,” he said. “He disrespected Checo last year, calling him a bad driver. And now? He’s in the same car and doing worse. It’s been a humbling experience.”
But Montoya believes the moment could be a turning point for Lawson—if he learns from it.
“If he doesn’t panic, if he stays present and just focuses on driving, he can still build something. He’s got talent—but he needs to get perspective.”
Steiner: “Lawson’s performance more embarrassing than Pérez’s”
Former Haas team boss Günther Steiner didn’t mince words either. He called Lawson’s underperformance more concerning than Pérez’s struggles—despite Lawson’s lack of F1 experience.
“If Lawson was at least making it to Q2, even Q3 now and then, the story would be different,” Steiner said. “But in three qualifying sessions, he never made it out of Q1. Meanwhile, Verstappen is always in the top four. That’s a massive gap.”
“He doesn’t need to beat Max—that’s not the expectation. But being over a second slower? That’s huge. When Checo was half a second off, people were already worried. A full second? That’s a red flag.”
Steiner believes Lawson may have crumbled under pressure: “It could be too much weight on his shoulders.”
Tsunoda Gets the Call – And Steiner Thinks He’ll Deliver
With Lawson out, Yuki Tsunoda will take over the second Red Bull seat—and Steiner expects him to shine.
“I think Yuki will get into Q3,” he predicted. “He’s been doing really well lately. Early in his career, he was a bit all over the place. But now? He’s cleaned it up. He’s quick, and more consistent.”
Even though recent races saw him plagued by bad luck—strategy missteps in Australia, a broken wing in China—Steiner is confident in Tsunoda’s pace and potential.
“He’s actually very good in a Red Bull. Right now, it looks like he won’t be there next year. But if he proves himself now, who knows? This is his chance. He’s got nothing to lose.”
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Montoya Blasts Lawson After Red Bull Demotion
Montoya Blasts Lawson After Red Bull Demotion
