Liam Lawson Opens Up About Red Bull’s ‘Cutthroat’ Culture and Early Morning Marko Calls

Liam Lawson unveils the 'ruthless' side of Red Bull, including early morning calls from Helmut Marko at 6am.

Liam Lawson has revealed the intense and uncompromising nature of Red Bull’s strategy towards their drivers as they aim to progress to Formula 1.

The 22-year-old from New Zealand is gearing up to make a comeback to the F1 circuit, stepping in to fill Daniel Ricciardo's spot for the last six races of the 2024 season with Red Bull's affiliate team, RB.

Over time, Red Bull has become known for making tough and often debated decisions about their racing team composition, with Ricciardo being the most recent driver to be let go due to his lackluster performance this season.

In the previous year, Nyck de Vries was let go only after participating in 10 races of his debut season, whereas Red Bull notably elevated Max Verstappen to the main team, replacing Daniil Kvyat after only the fourth race of the 2016 season.

In a recent episode of the F1 Nation podcast, just before the upcoming United States Grand Prix, Lawson shared insights into his journey through the junior levels under the strict supervision of Red Bull's formidable motorsport advisor, Helmut Marko.

"Reflecting on his experience, Lawson shared that the most challenging times often come at a young age. He specifically cited his initial years with Red Bull at the age of 16 and 17 as particularly difficult."

Transitioning from not being part of a junior team, relying solely on my crew from New Zealand who supported my journey to that stage, to then experiencing the pressure from Red Bull Racing and Dr. Helmut Marko.

"That's what I found particularly challenging to cope with. Truthfully, it has remained that way ever since."

In response to a question about what Marko might say to him, Lawson stated: “Usually, it's a phone call at 6 in the morning or so, and he'll say ‘your performance needs to improve. If you don't step up your game by next weekend, you'll be facing consequences, you have to start winning races’.

"Commonly, if your performance in a race is poor, there's a saying that goes, 'keep this up and you'll no longer be part of this team'."

"The competition is incredibly fierce, but truly, navigating those challenges with Helmet has been a blessing. Now, as I prepare to transition into Formula 1, I'm immensely grateful for that experience, given the tremendous pressure that comes with entering Formula 1.

"Without experiencing that level of stress from an early age, I believe stepping into this role so late in the season now, and even last year, would have been much more challenging for me if I hadn't endured five years with Helmet."

Lawson has received a chance to secure a permanent racing driver position in 2025, possibly with Red Bull, following his remarkable five-race stint with the junior team the previous season. However, he maintains that the level of pressure he feels remains the same.

"From my perspective, the level of pressure remains consistent because the expectations haven't shifted. There's always a demand for us to excel; every time we get behind the wheel, we're anticipated to deliver," he expressed.

"Last year, I was behind the wheel, aiming for a chance to secure a permanent spot, and now that I've achieved it, my focus is on maintaining that full-time position."

"Truly, the aspect of pressure can be viewed from various perspectives, and some might argue that there's even greater expectation for a performance akin to, or surpassing, last year's. However, given that I'm always aware of the expectation to perform whenever I'm behind the wheel, this doesn't alter anything for me. The pressure is a constant presence."

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