Lawson Faces Replacement Rumors Amid F1 Struggles

Liam Lawson's debut with Red Bull has been fraught with difficulties, as the 23-year-old has yet to score points in his first two races. His performance has raised questions about his future, with Red Bull team principal Christian Horner not ruling out a potential replacement, possibly with Yuki Tsunoda, before the Japanese Grand Prix. Despite Horner's acknowledgment of Lawson's potential, he cited the pressure Lawson faces in a competitive environment. Criticism has also been directed at Red Bull for not providing Lawson with a comprehensive testing program similar to that of Mercedes' Andrea Kimi Antonelli, which could have better prepared him for the challenges of the Red Bull car. Lawson's struggles are highlighted by his inability to qualify beyond Q1 and a pit-lane start in the Chinese Grand Prix due to significant setup changes. Red Bull is reportedly considering Franco Colapinto as a longer-term replacement for Lawson, adding further uncertainty to his F1 career.