Red Bull Criticized for Potentially Setting Up Liam Lawson for Failure as He Faces ‘Massive Challenge’ in Sprint Weekend Replacement of Daniel Ricciardo

Red Bull cautioned about the risks of positioning Liam Lawson for potential failure

Daniel Ricciardo's substitute faces a "significant challenge" during the sprint weekend

Red Bull has been cautioned about the potential risk of positioning Liam Lawson for a downfall by having him join the RB team late in the F1 season.

Daniel Ricciardo has been let go with six races remaining, and Lawson will take his place at Red Bull’s affiliated team RB for the rest of the 2024 season.

At the United States Grand Prix next month, 22-year-old Lawson will join Yuki Tsunoda.

In response to the formal announcement made on Thursday, former F1 racer and Sky Sports analyst Karun Chandhok labeled Ricciardo’s departure at the Singapore Grand Prix as "uncomfortable".

"Chandhok tweeted that Red Bull hasn't made things straightforward for Liam or Daniel. He suggested that a proper farewell in Singapore would have been better than a weekend filled with uncertain 'maybes' for Daniel."

Lawson stepped in as a replacement at RB for five races last season when Ricciardo injured his hand in an accident during the Dutch Grand Prix, which happened just two races after Ricciardo had made his return.

The New Zealand native made a strong impression in his brief appearances and earned two points by securing a ninth-place finish in Singapore.

Chandhok is worried about the difficulty Lawson will encounter, especially because his return race happens to be during a sprint weekend in Austin.

Chandhok added that it would be incredibly challenging for Liam to step in for one of the most well-liked drivers in the U.S. right at the start of a Sprint weekend.

“I hope they provide him with some testing sessions before Austin so he can get fully prepared. Young drivers need a fair opportunity, otherwise, they’re being set up to fail.”

Lawson will have the opportunity to showcase his skills to Red Bull and possibly position himself as a candidate for a 2025 spot on the main team.

Despite having a contract to race with Max Verstappen next season, Sergio Perez's lackluster performances this year have cast doubts on his future.

With increasing rumors suggesting a potential mid-season replacement for Perez during the summer, Red Bull had to confirm that the Mexican driver would retain his position for the remainder of the season.

It is not certain that Perez will retain his position with Red Bull for the year 2025.

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