Liam Lawson discovers ‘shock’ on the Red Bull Demotion while Christian Horner explains the decision ahead

Liam Lawson discovered his “shock” because Red Bull rejected him, because the team director Christian Horner explained the reasons for making a “horrible” decision.

Last week, Red Bull decided to dismantle Lawson with his junior racing bulls only two races in his first campaign campaign, and Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda promoted his home race this weekend.

The decision was made just over three months after Lawson was elected Tsunodo as the ruling World Champion Max Verstappen’s teammate, after a bad appearance of a new Zealand in Australia and China.

Speaking solely Sky Sports F1 In Tokyo, Lawson said in Tokyo on Wednesday, “That was definitely a shock, honestly. It’s not something I saw coming.

“I don’t think the discussions we had, didn’t really lean in that direction, so it’s definitely not something I somehow expected.”

Red Bull developed a ruthless reputation in the execution of changes in the middle of the season in their driving settings, but the speed of the latest team switch was completely unprecedented.

While Lawson’s struggles were extreme during the opening of the two rounds, they both came to circles where he had no experience, and many in Padobina were stunned that the team did not wait to see him in the action on the trail he was better known with, like Suzuka.

Asked if he was frustrated because of the lack of time afforded him, Lawson said, “Honestly, yes. I obviously would love more time.

“And I felt with more time, especially going to the places I was before … It was a difficult start. We had rocky tests. We had a rocky first weekend in Melbourne with practice. And then obviously China was Sprint.

“I think going to the places I was before with the way the car was quite ticklish, I think it would help and that I would love that opportunity. But obviously, that’s not my decision, so I’m here to make the most of this.”

Horner: We asked Lawson too early

Although the demonstration will undoubtedly be humiliating for Lawson, the episode is also shameful for Horner and Red Bull advisor Helmut Mark, who have the last word on the team driver.

Lawson only drove 11 Grands Prix – through two separate spells with racing bulls – when he was chosen for Tsunod.

Also speaking solely Sky Sports F1 On Wednesday, Horner assumed that he had asked “too early” from the 23-year-old.

“Of course, it’s awful because you distract someone’s dreams and aspirations, but sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind, and I don’t think in this case it’s not the end for Liama.

“I was very clear with him.

“We have to accept, I think we asked him too early. And so, again, he nurtures the talent that we know that he, in the seat of Racing Bulls, while Yuki provided the opportunity and asked to take advantage of the experience he had.”

The Red Bull car looked extremely difficult to ride in the initial stages of the season, and Verstappen put a trip to second place in Australia and the fourth in China.

Horner says that acceptance in the team that they should quickly develop RB21 was a great consideration in the promotion of the more experienced tsunoda, which ended four seasons in F1.

“We have to work with a car,” Horner said. “We have to improve the car. We have to rely on the experience Yuki has.

“And in the meantime, you (Lawson) have to be renewed and renewed in racing bulls, in the environment you know and maybe a little less pressure than the Red Bull race.”

‘Engineers were worried about Lawson’

Pressed by what convinced him to make a decision, Horner said that both the engineers were “worried” for the degree that Lawson mentally struggled with the situation.

He said, “I think with everything we have seen in Australia and China, you could see that it really badly affected Liam.

“We could leave him and I think Liam is a driver with a talent. Maybe he would get there within half a season, but we just don’t have time.

“It was something that was very clear for the engineering side in the team, how much Liam struggled with all this, and you could see that weight on his shoulders.

“The engineers came to me very worried about it, and at the end of the day I think it was logical.”

Lawson is unwavering that in his style of driving there is nothing that RB21 has done him particularly challenging, but that he simply took more time to adjust.

“For me, it is neither,” Lawson said. “The car is hard to drive. But we went through the adjustment process.

“It’s a sincere time for me. But the way the weekend has passed, in Formula 1, in the pre -season test, drive all day and have a lot of time to adjust and such things. So honest, the lack of time in the car for me is the biggest thing that made it difficult to adapt.

“Every session we went out, somehow we adapted or got used to something that was a little unknown. It’s not that much driving style or something. It’s just a literal adjustment. And for me, I just didn’t have time for that.”

‘Verstappen surprised by the rate of decision’

There were speculations that Verstappen Saga did not impress as a post on Instagram, which contained criticism that Red Bull loved his official account.

There are already murmurs because of the Dutch future with the team in the midst of the long -standing interest of Mercedes and Aston Martin, but Horner played the impact of a decision on Verstappen.

“I think he was surprised by the speed. But he could also see how much Liam struggled,” Horner said.

“He knows where we need to improve the car. She really works hard with an engineering team.

“We had a very good session with him last week, where he is just very focused on improving the car, finding those last few tenths to really urd with McLarens in advance.”

Verstappen will have the opportunity to share his thoughts about the situation when he fulfills his media obligations on Thursday ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix.

Thursday 3rd April

• 5:00: A driver’s press conference

Friday 4th. April

• 3:00: Japanese Medical Practice One (session starts at 3.30am)*
• 5.30 pm: A press conference of the Director of the Tim Director
• 6.45am: Japanese GP Exercise Two (session starts at 7 o’clock)*
• 8.15am: F1 Show*

Saturday 5th. April

• 3.15am: Japanese medical practice three (session starts at 3.30am)*
• 6:00: Japanese GP qualifying buildup*
• 7:00: Japanese GP qualification*
• 9:00: TED -O’s qualifying notebook*

Sunday 6 April

• 4.30 hours: Japanese GP Building-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
• 6:00: Japanese Grand Prix*
• 8:00: Japanese reaction GP -a: Plated flag*
• 9:00: Ted’s notebook*

*Also live at the main event Sky Sports

Formula 1 is referred to the iconic circle of Suzuk for Japanese Grand Prix from 4-6. April, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with now – No Treaty, cancel anytime