Christian Klien, Scott Speed, Sebastien Bourdais, Daniil Kvyat (twice), Pierre Gasly, Nyck de Vries, Daniel Ricciardo – the list of drivers being replaced mid-season by Red Bull or its sister team is lengthy. As of this week, Liam Lawson joins that group and, in a way, he’s even a record-breaker: no Red Bull-contracted driver has been dropped faster. That Lawson was given just two rounds with the senior team is remarkable, even by Red Bull standards, particularly when considering both tracks were new to him.
Lawson’s demotion: Ruthless or protective?
When Motorsport.com caught up with Helmut Marko in the Shanghai paddock last weekend and put Lawson’s comments to him – “I need more time…