Liam Lawson’s Red Bull data showed his ‘lack of understanding’ about time loss to Max Verstappen

Follow us on Google Discover

Liam Lawson’s Red Bull career lasted just two races in 2025, and his data showed just how much he did not understand the car compared to Max Verstappen.

The New Zealander was trusted to replace Sergio Perez for the 2025 season at the Milton Keynes outfit, but he quickly learned how difficult a job he would have. Lawson was knocked out in Q1 in Australia and China before he was dropped back to Racing Bulls.

As has been seen throughout the last few years, all of Verstappen’s teammates have struggled to perform next to him at Red Bull. Lawson was no different, as his telemetry would show in the RB22.

How can Red Bull correct the mistakes they made with Liam Lawson ahead of Isack Hadjar’s debut?

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

Lawson had no feeling from the car during his short period with the team. The 24-year-old could not handle the sensitive nature of the RB22 and thus languished at the back of the grid.

Lawson praised Verstappen for his support during his time at Red Bull. But there was nothing that the Dutchman could do to save his teammate, as he was demoted back to the junior team after two races.

READ MORE: Who is Racing Bulls F1 driver Liam Lawson? Everything you need to know

Liam Lawson was six tenths down to Max Verstappen in China due to a ‘lack of understanding’ of aero balance and the car

Lawson stated that he was half a second behind Verstappen at Red Bull. His weekend in China was particularly damaging, as the telemetry showed that he was six tenths down on his teammate after just the first two corners.

F1 driver coach Martin Villari assessed the data on the lowerlaptime YouTube channel: “Have a look at this, he’s not lying when he says half a second. This is them in ‘25, Max in white and Lawson in blue.

“And if we look at the delta through turn one, even over the line, he’s losing, probably the exit out of [turn] 16, he’s already down six hundredths by the time they go into turn one.

Could this be the issue that ends Liam Lawson’s Formula 1 career?

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

“But anyway, as turn one unfolds, you see Max’s speed in white is much higher than Liam’s in blue. And it does materialise to be six tenths by the time they’ve gone through one and two.

“That’s very strange for me. It’s very strange to have that level of time loss through turn one. I get it because it’s a long corner. So, that’s possible.

“But he’s braking earlier and having to get out of the throttle earlier as well. So, gets out of the throttle earlier and Max just with that downforce flies in through there.

“I always come back to line and steering wheel, but in this particular case, it’s probably a lack of understanding about aero balance, steering wheel, tight lines, what the car is capable of.”