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Red Bull Faces Dilemma Over Driver Line-Up Ahead of Japanese Grand Prix

The upcoming Japanese Grand Prix will prompt Red Bull Racing to reconsider its driver lineup for the season. As the team prepares to compete at Suzuka, questions loom over whether Liam Lawson will retain his seat alongside Max Verstappen, especially after a challenging start to the season that saw Lawson struggle with performance.

After two disappointing races, Red Bull is reportedly weighing the option of swapping Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda from their sister team, Racing Bulls. This situation highlights the intense pressure associated with the second seat at Red Bull, which team principal Christian Horner has often referred to as “the hardest seat in Formula 1.” This scrutiny comes in the wake of a turbulent opening fortnight for Lawson, who failed to score points and faced early elimination in qualifying at both races.

The situation was a key topic of discussion on a recent episode of The F1 Show, hosted by Simon Lazenby alongside analysts Ted Kravitz and Bernie Collins, where they delved into the implications of Lawson’s performance and what Red Bull might consider moving forward.

Analyzing Lawson’s results, Collins noted, “The performances didn’t look great from either race weekend so far. Seven tenths off in Q1 is enough to put them at very different ends of the grid.” She emphasized Verstappen’s consistency, stating, “He gets the most out of the car and manages to pull it out when it matters.”

In a revealing interview, Horner discussed the team’s strategic direction, suggesting that they had aligned the car’s development with Verstappen’s driving style. He explained, “The team had followed the direction of their fastest driver to develop a car that is quite tricky to drive.” This raises questions about how they can adapt the setup for a second driver, especially one who must adapt quickly to such a demanding vehicle.

Collins also expressed concerns regarding the handling of Lawson’s promotion, arguing that he lacked adequate testing time in an older version of the Red Bull before stepping into the primary role. “They should have looked at their younger talent and assessed who could adapt best to the car’s characteristics,” she recommended, highlighting the need for a more methodical selection process.

Kravitz, on the other hand, urged caution against making a swift decision on Lawson’s future, emphasizing his potential to perform better at Suzuka, a circuit he knows well. “They’d be crazy to replace Lawson for Japan because he clearly has familiarity with the track,” he stated.

Lawson himself acknowledged the need for improvement, stating post-race that he must quickly “get on top of” the car’s performance issues following his disappointing finish of 12th in China.

As Formula 1 gears up for the pivotal Japanese Grand Prix from April 4-6, the spotlight will remain firmly on Red Bull’s driver situation and their strategic choices moving forward. The outcome may not only affect Lawson’s career trajectory but could also shape the entire team’s performance as they seek to remain competitive in the championship race.

For more on the latest developments in F1, tune into this week’s episode of The F1 Show, which addresses key moments and rising challenges in the racing season.

Formula 1 heads to the iconic Suzuka Circuit for the Japanese Grand Prix on April 4-6, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – No contract, cancel anytime

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www.skysports.com