Former Red Bull F1 boss was 'uncomfortable' that Liam Lawson was promoted in 2025
Former Red Bull F1 team principal Christian Horner reflects on his discomfort regarding the 2025 promotion of Liam Lawson. Horner claims the decision was driven by advisor Helmut Marko and that the premature promotion negatively impacted the young driver's confidence.
Why it matters
Provides insight into internal team dynamics and management conflicts within a high-stakes professional sports organization.
Former Red Bull boss Christian Horner has revealed that he was "uncomfortable" with promoting New Zealand driver Liam Lawson to the top team at the start of the 2025 Formula 1 season.
Lawson lasted just two races driving alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull before he was demoted back to Racing Bulls and replaced by Yuki Tsunoda.
At the time, Lawson felt he hadn't been given long enough to prove himself.
Horner said Lawson's confidence was "smashed" after he failed to finish the opening round in Australia and was 12th in Japan before being dumped.
However, the young Kiwi eventually recovered at Racing Bulls, picking up seven points finishes including a fifth place at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Horner, who left Red Bull a couple of months later, is about to release his memoir Drive.
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