Liam Lawson has spoken for the first time since he was brutally axed by Red Bull.
Lawson, 23, became the latest victim of the F1 team’s ferocious conveyor belt this week after just two races in his dream seat.
The New Zealander has been demoted to feeder team Racing Bulls, with Yuki Tsunoda going in the opposite direction.
It’s a move which has upset Max Verstappen, according to Mail Sport’s sources at Red Bull, and follows a tradition of brutal firings for the team’s No 2 driver.
In a moving Instagram post, Lawson revealed his anguish at being chopped by Red Bull and how much racing for them meant to him.
‘Being a Red Bull Racing driver has been my dream since I was a kid, it’s what I’ve worked towards my whole life,’ he wrote.
Axed Red Bull star Liam Lawson released an emotional post addressing a ‘tough’ time for him
He revealed a photo of him as a boy, stood with a school project on his Formula One dream
‘It’s tough, but I’m grateful for everything that’s brought me to this point.
‘To every one of you who’s stood by me, thank you for all the support it means the world.
‘Thank you to Visa Cash App Racing Bulls for the warm welcome, I’m excited and ready to go to work at one of my favourite places.’
Lawson included a photograph of him as a wide-eyed boy from a school presentation on his dream to become a Formula One star.
Another photo shows a drawing he made at a young age listing his dream job as ‘F1 driver’.
Lawson’s time with Red Bull is the shortest stint a driver has spent in a seat in Formula One history – illness and injury aside.
His two-race Red Bull career surpasses that of Yuji Ide, who raced just four times for Super Aguri in 2006.
Nevertheless, Racing Bulls are still a respectable team and will give Lawson the opportunity to compete for points alongside Isack Hadjar.
Lawson also revealed this drawing he made as a child, and wrote that racing for Red Bull is ‘what I’ve worked towards my whole life’
Helmut Marko insisted it was a ‘mistake’ to hire Lawson and compared him to a downed boxer
Lawson’s girlfriend Hannah St John also took to social media to back him after his sacking
However, Red Bull’s advisor Helmut Marko had some typically unsympathetic words for the young talent, calling it a ‘mistake’ to hire him in the first place.
‘In Australia, he had a turbo failure in the third practice session. He misses the miles he lost because of it. We need a strong second driver, if only for team tactical reasons,’ he told OE24.
‘Yuki was too inconsistent. That’s why we unanimously chose Lawson. But under the mounting pressure, he couldn’t deliver from day one in Australia.
‘He then entered a downward spiral. He’s like a boxer who’s been knocked down; it’s very hard to get out. In that sense, it was a mistake.’
Lawson’s girlfriend, Hannah St John, also took to Instagram to react to his dismissal.
She shared a simple black-and-white photo of them holding hands, complete with a love-heart emoji.
A statement from Red Bull said: ‘Following a difficult opening period for the season for Liam Lawson, Red Bull have made the decision that from the 2025 Japan GP, Yuki Tsunoda will drive for Red Bull and Liam will drive for Racing Bulls.
Yuki Tsunoda has been promoted from Racing Bulls to replace Lawson after two races
‘Red Bull are in the unique position of having four seats on the F1 grid, and as such the team have made the decision to exercise driver rotation that will see Yuki partner current and four-time world champion Max Verstappen.’
Christian Horner said: ‘It has been difficult to see Liam struggle with the RB21 at the first two races and as a result we have collectively taken the decision to make an early switch.
‘We came into the 2025 season with two ambitions, to retain the world drivers’ championship and to retain the world constructors’ title and this is a purely sporting decision.
‘We acknowledge there is a lot of work to be done with the RB21 and Yuki’s experience will prove highly beneficial in helping to develop the current car.’
