Red Bull’s Formula 1 team advisor, Helmut Marko, has sparked speculations over a possible mid-season driver change. Marko hinted at discontent with recent recruit Liam Lawson’s performance, suggesting that fellow rookie, Isack Hadjar, might be in line to replace him.
Lawson, who joined the Red Bull Racing team as Max Verstappen’s teammate for the 2025 F1 season, has faced a challenging start. The New Zealand racer was brought in to fill the void left by Sergio Perez, but his initial weeks have been marked by underwhelming performances, reminiscent of Daniil Kvyat, Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, and Perez himself in their early days at the team.
Indeed, Lawson’s debut at the Australian Grand Prix was far from impressive; he failed to make the Q3 cut, finishing a disappointing 18th. His first two appearances for Red Bull in China were equally lackluster, as he became the first driver for the team in the past decade to fall in Q1 twice. This comes despite Lawson’s unfamiliarity with the circuits in Australia and China, where he had never raced prior to the 2025 season.
Hadjar, on the other hand, has been making waves despite his rookie status. The Frenchman managed to outqualify his experienced teammate Yuki Tsunoda during his Shanghai debut, a feat that has not gone unnoticed by Marko.
Speaking to Sky Germany about Lawson’s lackluster performance, Marko admitted: “This is not what we expected.” He further fuelled the swap rumors, stating, “we’ll see what happens,” while praising Hadjar for his remarkable times and error-free racing, describing his performance as “absolutely fascinating.”
When probed about the possibility of a driver change during the 2025 F1 season, Marko simply said, “Formula 1 is a competitive sport. Ultimately, that’s what counts.”
Interestingly, Yuki Tsunoda, who was passed over for the 2025 Red Bull seat, has also thrown his hat into the ring as a potential replacement for Lawson. Tsunoda expressed his readiness to team up with Verstappen for the upcoming race in Japan, highlighting the speed of the Red Bull car as an added incentive.
In the wake of his underwhelming performances, Lawson has been forthcoming about his struggles. Speaking to Sky F1 after his disappointing outing in China, the Kiwi admitted, “I think it’s just time. Unfortunately, I don’t really have time, but it’s just one of those things that me driving a Formula 1 car takes 100 per cent confidence in what you’re doing.”
Clearly, the pressure is on for Lawson to step up his game. As the 2025 F1 season unfolds, all eyes will be on Red Bull’s next move. Will they stick with their current driver lineup, or will we see a mid-season change? Only time will tell.