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Lawson Dismisses Brown’s Comments on Red Bull Driver Choices
Liam Lawson has made it clear that the opinions of McLaren CEO Zak Brown regarding Red Bull’s driver selections for 2025 are not on his radar. His statement comes on the heels of last weekend’s Australian Grand Prix, where Brown praised Yuki Tsunoda for an impressive qualifying performance that placed him fifth on the grid. In contrast, Lawson had a less favorable outing, qualifying 18th in what was his debut race for Red Bull.
Brown’s support for Tsunoda highlights the strategic decisions made by Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, who opted for Lawson over Tsunoda as Max Verstappen’s teammate for the upcoming season, following the departure of Sergio Perez. This decision has led Tsunoda to remain in Red Bull’s junior team for a fifth consecutive season, a situation that Brown has publicly questioned, suggesting that Red Bull sometimes makes unconventional driver choices.
“Yuki did a great job. If you consider his performance, he should probably be in the Red Bull,” Brown remarked during an interview with Sky Sports. “However, they seem to make some strange driver choices from time to time.”
Reflecting on his own experience, Lawson, who took over from Daniel Ricciardo at Red Bull for the last six races of the previous season, faced a challenging start in Melbourne as he crashed out. When asked about Brown’s comments, Lawson was resolute: “I couldn’t care less what Zak says, to be honest. I haven’t spoken to him, and I haven’t followed any social media for the last two weeks.”
Looking ahead, Lawson emphasized the importance of making progress and having a better weekend in the upcoming races. “It’s crucial to have a good weekend because that’s our purpose here. We can’t spiral downwards after one race, although our expectations are certainly high. Personally, my performance in Melbourne was below what I had hoped for, so we are just focused on improving.”
Tsunoda, who also felt he deserved a promotion to Red Bull, acknowledged Brown’s remarks but remained focused on his current role. “I appreciated what Zak said about me in the press, but it’s just one race. These discussions have been around since last year,” he noted. “It’s positive feedback, but I need to concentrate on my performance. They have made their choices for this season, and perhaps they have plans for the future.”
He added, “As long as I’m representing the Racing Bulls, my goal is to push for the team and optimize my performance. I believe there’s still significant room for improvement, and I’m dedicated to that.”
Insights from the Upcoming Chinese Grand Prix
As the teams prepare for the Chinese Grand Prix, the focus will undoubtedly be on the evolving dynamics within Red Bull and the ongoing competition among its drivers. Both Lawson and Tsunoda will aim to capitalize on their opportunities and highlight their capabilities on the track.
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