Liam Lawson Unveils Red Bull’s ‘Cutthroat’ Culture: The 6am Calls That Define F1 Ambitions

Liam Lawson discusses the intense environment at Red Bull, highlighting early morning calls at 6am from Helmut Marko.

Liam Lawson has provided insights into Red Bull's highly competitive and ruthless strategy concerning the career progression of their drivers who aim to make it to Formula 1.

A 22-year-old from New Zealand is getting ready to make a comeback to the Formula 1 lineup. He has been called upon to fill in for Daniel Ricciardo for the last six races of the 2024 season with Red Bull's affiliate team, RB.

Over the years, Red Bull has become known for making tough and often debated decisions about their drivers. Most recently, Ricciardo has been dropped from the team due to not meeting performance expectations this season.

In the previous year, Nyck de Vries was dismissed after participating in only 10 races of what was his debut full season. In a well-known move by Red Bull, they elevated Max Verstappen to their main team, replacing Daniil Kvyat after only four races in the 2016 season.

In a recent episode of the F1 Nation podcast, prior to the United States Grand Prix happening this weekend, Lawson discussed his journey under the keen observation of Red Bull's stringent motorsport advisor Helmut Marko as he advanced through the junior levels.

Lawson shared that the most challenging period was during his early years, particularly at the age of 16 and 17, in his debut year with Red Bull.

Transitioning from not being part of a junior team and only having the support of my New Zealand crew who helped me reach that stage, to suddenly facing the expectations of Red Bull Racing and Dr. Helmut Marko.

"That was the main challenge I faced. Honestly, it's been the same ever since."

When questioned about what Marko might tell him, Lawson answered: "Typically, it's a phone call at six in the morning or something along those lines, and the message would be, 'You have to improve your performance. If you don't do better next weekend, you're in hot water; you need to start winning races.'"

"It's common to hear that if you don't perform well in a race, you might not have a future with the team if things don't improve."

"It's extremely competitive, but truthfully, I'm grateful for having experienced that with Helmet. It has prepared me for the significant pressure that comes with entering Formula 1."

"Without experiencing that intense pressure from a young age, I doubt I could have handled stepping in so late in the season, and last year too, if I hadn't spent five years with Helmet."

Lawson has the chance to secure a permanent position with RB for the 2025 season, possibly even with Red Bull, following a standout performance in five races for the junior team last year. However, he maintains that the level of pressure remains the same.

"The pressure remains constant from my perspective because the expectations have always been the same. There is always an anticipation for us to deliver, and every time we get behind the wheel, there is a demand for performance," he stated.

"Last year, I was working towards securing a full-time position while driving. Now that I've achieved that, my goal is to maintain my status as a full-time driver."

"The pressure can be viewed from various angles. Some might argue there's more pressure this time around since people anticipate a performance akin to or surpassing last year's. However, I'm aware that every time I get behind the wheel, there's an expectation for me to deliver. That aspect remains constant."

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