P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Christian Horner has denied it was his call to switch Liam Lawson out for Yuki Tsunoda at Red Bull, after just two rounds of the 2025 F1 season.
Former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner clarified that sending Liam Lawson back to Racing Bulls early in the 2025 F1 season was not his decision, but rather a reflection of the ruthless culture within the team.
Red Bull justified the move as a gesture of “duty of care” towards Lawson, implying a lack of confidence on his part, despite his denial of such claims.
Horner, who was later dismissed from his role, revealed the circumstances of Lawson’s demotion in an interview for the Drive to Survive docu-series, attributing the pressure to promote Red Bull juniors to partner Max Verstappen to Helmut Marko.
The team’s single-minded focus on Verstappen has led to mixed results with other drivers, such as Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon, struggling in what is considered a challenging role in F1.
Sergio Perez was the exception, lasting four years alongside Verstappen before making way for Lawson, highlighting the dynamics within the Red Bull team under Horner’s leadership.
