Jacques Villeneuve slams Liam Lawson, blaming arrogance and poor form for his sudden Red Bull exit after just two races.
Was Liam Lawson’s Red Bull exit justified? For 1997 F1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve, the answer is clear — and blunt. According to him, Lawson’s attitude may have sealed his fate more than anything he did on track.
Red Bull confirmed today that Lawson will swap seats with Yuki Tsunoda, and Villeneuve didn’t mince his words when assessing the New Zealander’s short stint.
“Those two races didn’t help him at all. That’s the risk when you step into a Red Bull — you need to deliver right away.”
Villeneuve explained that joining one of the top teams in F1 comes with pressure and high expectations.
“That’s the price you pay to be in the best car. If you take the gamble, great. But if it doesn’t work, you’ll pay the price. That’s just how it goes.”
He also pointed to what he sees as Lawson’s overconfidence from the start.
“He came into F1 with a lot of arrogance. Last year, he acted like he was going to be the next big thing. But when the results don’t back that up, the criticism hits even harder.”
“He’s now delivered the worst result we’ve seen with a Red Bull car. That’s on him. He put himself in a tough spot.”
Villeneuve also backed Red Bull’s decision not to let Lawson race at Suzuka, even though it’s a track Lawson knows well.
“Red Bull has access to all the data. If they think Lawson isn’t mentally or physically ready, Suzuka’s not the place to take that chance. It’s a dangerous track, and you need the right mindset.”
“If he’s broken, it’s better to take him out now and give him time to recover.”
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Villeneuve: Lawson’s Ego Crashed His Red Bull Hopes
Villeneuve: Lawson’s Ego Crashed His Red Bull Hopes
