P1racenews AI automatic summary:
When Red Bull decided who to pass Formula 1’s poisoned chalice to for 2025, one factor outweighed all others in selecting Liam Lawson as Max Verstappen’s teammate. Performance mattered, but more im…
When Red Bull made the decision to choose a teammate for Max Verstappen in Formula 1 for 2025, they prioritized selecting Liam Lawson due to his robust mindset over just performance. The mentality required to succeed in that position was deemed crucial, considering the challenging history of previous drivers. While some may claim Verstappen has a career-killing aura as a teammate, others like Gasly, Albon, and Perez have managed to bounce back albeit with setbacks. Red Bull has faith in Lawson’s ability to avoid being overshadowed by Verstappen and rise to the challenge of the impossible assignment. Lawson’s confident demeanor and experience, despite being relatively new to the scene, give Red Bull hope that he can meet their high expectations and contribute to the team’s success. Helmut Marko and Christian Horner emphasize Lawson’s mental strength as a key factor in their decision-making process, highlighting his attitude, composure under pressure, and ability to perform consistently. The team believes Lawson has what it takes to be a strong contender alongside Verstappen, meeting the performance targets set for him and avoiding being the weak link in the team.
