Six months after breaking the news of Red Bull's decision to sack Daniel Ricciardo, former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher has dropped a significant update regarding the future of Liam Lawson.
Lawson looks set to be replaced at Red Bull by former teammate and Racing Bulls driver Yuki Tsunoda for the Japanese Grand Prix, according to widespread reports.
The 23-year-old, who was promoted from Racing Bulls to Red Bull ahead of the new season, has yet to secure a point this season, sparking rumours over his immediate future with the team.
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He crashed out of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on March 16 and finished 12th in the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday, shortly after another disappointing performance in qualifying.
On Monday morning, Sky pundit and former Formula One driver Ralf Schumacher claimed a proposed swap involving Lawson and Tsunoda is on the cards.
Schumacher, who also broke the news of Red Bull's decision to sack Daniel Ricciardo in September last year, also criticised the team's management, describing the scenes as "pure chaos" with only two races completed.
"Liam Lawson is already out for the next race," he told Sky Sports on a live broadcast. "Tsunoda will replace him. It’s not fully confirmed yet, but that’s how it looks.
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“I have to say, it’s unbelievable. From a management perspective, I also find it incredibly bad.
“I don’t understand it at all because it destabilises the Racing Bulls team, which is finally in a good position with both drivers. Tsunoda is better, but still has no chance against Max [Verstappen]."
“Lawson goes back to the Racing Bulls now. He’ll have to rebuild himself there again. This is pure chaos at Red Bull."
Schumacher added: “Not only are they too slow in the main team, but now they are also swapping drivers around like a charade. I find that truly unbelievable."
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After the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday, Red Bull boss Christian Horner refused to rule out a swap between Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson.
“There’s always going to be speculation in the paddock,” Horner said, when asked whether Red Bull could make a change for Japan.
“As I say, we’ve only just finished the race here, we’ll take away the info and have a good look at it.
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“I think everything is purely speculative at the moment. As I say, we’ve just finished this race, we’re going to take away the info and have a good look at it.”
Horner added: “I think Liam still has got potential, we’re just not realising that at the moment. I think the problem for him is he’s had a couple of really tough weekends and he’s got all the media on his back.
“The pressure just naturally grows in this business. I feel very sorry for him that he’s… you can see it’s very tough on him at the moment.
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“He’s a young guy, we’ve got a duty to look after him. We’re going to do the best that we can to support him. Liam’s still a very capable driver, we know that, we’re just not… for whatever reason, we’re not seeing him able to deliver that at the moment.”
Topics: Formula 1, Red Bull Racing, Daniel Ricciardo
Jack Kenmare