Liam Lawson’s High-Stakes Debut and Ricciardo’s Awkward Farewell: Navigating Red Bull’s End-of-Season Shake-Up

Red Bull cautions about preparing Liam Lawson "to fail"

Daniel Ricciardo's successor faces "enormous challenge" during sprint weekend

Red Bull has been cautioned about potentially setting Liam Lawson up "for failure" by hastily inserting him into the RB team near the F1 season's conclusion.

With six races remaining, Daniel Ricciardo has been let go and will be substituted by Lawson at Red Bull's affiliate team RB for the rest of the 2024 season.

The 22-year-old Lawson is set to join Yuki Tsunoda for the upcoming United States Grand Prix next month.

Responding to the news released on Thursday, former Formula 1 driver and Sky Sports analyst Karun Chandhok characterized Ricciardo's departure at the Singapore Grand Prix as "awkward".

"Chandhok believes Red Bull missed the opportunity to provide Liam and Daniel with a fitting farewell in Singapore, opting instead for a weekend filled with uncertain 'maybe's for Daniel," he expressed via a tweet.

Last season, after Ricciardo sustained a hand injury from a crash at the Dutch Grand Prix – merely two races into his return – Lawson stepped in to cover the RB position for five races.

The individual from New Zealand made a notable impact in his brief appearances, securing two points with a ninth-place finish in Singapore.

Chandhok is worried about the obstacles Lawson will encounter, especially since his return to racing aligns with a sprint weekend in Austin.

"Chandhok emphasized the enormity of the task ahead for Liam, stepping in for one of America's favorite drivers right at a Sprint weekend, as a huge hurdle!"

"Hopefully, they'll provide him with some practice sessions before Austin to ensure he's well-prepared. It's crucial to offer young drivers adequate opportunities, or else it's like paving the way for their downfall."

Lawson is set to seize the opportunity to showcase his talents to Red Bull, possibly positioning himself as a contender for a seat on the senior team in 2025.

Despite having a contract to race alongside Max Verstappen next season, Sergio Perez's lackluster results this year have once again raised questions about his long-term prospects.

Amid increasing rumors suggesting that Perez might be swapped out during the mid-season in the summer, Red Bull was compelled to affirm that the Mexican driver would retain his position for the remainder of the season.

However, it's uncertain if Perez will retain his position with Red Bull for the 2025 season.

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