Christian Horner outlines plans to protect Liam Lawson from mounting expectations, with a revamped RB21 designed for greater accessibility.
Christian Horner has a plan to ensure Red Bull doesn’t place excessive pressure on Liam Lawson, who will contest his first full season this year alongside Max Verstappen in the team that has dominated the current F1 era. He highlighted the strategy the team has employed with its drivers since Daniel Ricciardo’s departure.
“Daniel and Max formed a strong pairing, but we had two juniors who struggled, which is why Checo took the seat for the 2021 season and dealt with the pressure,” Horner explained.
“The other factor we’re focusing on is making sure we create a broader operating window with the RB21 compared to the RB20, which was very narrow and had a limited peak performance window.”
“For us, creating a wider window will help Liam find a more forgiving car than the RB20 can be at times. One of the things we’ll aim to do is shield Liam from expectations, and of course, when Alex [Albon] and Pierre [Gasly] were in the team, Max wasn’t yet a four-time world champion.”
“He hadn’t won a world championship at that point, but we now have a very clear positioning within the team regarding Max’s career status and what we expect from the second driver.”
Pérez, meanwhile, praised Max Verstappen’s level and acknowledged the immense challenge facing Liam Lawson: “It’s an incredible challenge. I knew what I was getting into when I came here.”
“It’s an incredible challenge, and people shouldn’t underestimate the level of experience, capability, and mental strength you need to face this extreme challenge.”
“As Max’s teammate at Red Bull as a young driver, I wouldn’t want to be in his shoes. People can’t underestimate the level of difficulty they’re up against.”
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RB21 Redesign to Ease Lawson’s Debut Season Challenges RB21 Redesign to Ease Lawson’s Debut Season Challenges
