Liam Lawson<\/a> was given the nod to replace Perez for 2025, following a glimpse of some impressive performances with Racing Bulls<\/a> after taking over from Daniel Ricciardo for the final six races of the previous term.<\/p>\n The New Zealander\u2019s status as a Red Bull<\/a> driver lasted all of two race weekends, with Lawson swiftly being demoted back to Racing Bulls<\/a> before the Japanese Grand Prix. The 23-year-old felt like he wasn\u2019t able to shine in his role due to the limited amount of time he had with the RB21.<\/p>\n READ MORE:\u00a0Who is Racing Bulls F1 driver Liam Lawson? Everything you need to know<\/a><\/p>\n Ted Kravitz recalls Christian Horner\u2019s fury over a question about Liam Lawson at the Chinese Grand Prix<\/p>\n Lawson\u2019s final outing as a Red Bull driver came at the Chinese Grand Prix<\/a>, where he struggled immensely in qualifying but showed some glimmer of hope with his race pace. <\/p>\n After qualifying 19th and finishing 14th in the Sprint race, the young Kiwi had a disastrous qualifying session for the Grand Prix, setting the slowest time in Q1 to book himself in for the final slot on the grid. <\/p>\n Sky Sports F1\u2019s Ted Kravitz<\/a> recalled questioning the then-Red Bull boss Christian Horner<\/a> about Lawson\u2019s performances in comparison to his predecessors, to which the team principal did not like one bit. <\/p>\n \u201cI said, \u2018Do you have a little problem with Liam?\u2019 And he didn\u2019t really give an answer,\u201d Kravitz told The Telegraph<\/a>. \u201cHe just said, \u2018Well, you know, it\u2019s OK, we\u2019ll address it.\u2019 <\/p>\n \u201cHad he said, \u2018Well, it\u2019s very interesting you say that. You know, Liam\u2019s actually had an issue with turn six all week; he\u2019s losing time, he\u2019s actually not as slow as the times would suggest.\u2019 If you give a bit of an explanation and description for my viewer, then I would have thought, okay, fair enough.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was the way he said, \u2018We\u2019ll take a look at it.\u2019 And I just instantly thought, \u2018Hang on, you didn\u2019t pay off Checo for this, did you? You wanted a quicker driver, is he not a quicker driver?\u2019 I think that\u2019s word-for-word what I said, because it was just a human reaction in my head.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd then he looked at me with that stare that I\u2019ve become quite used to with Christian, and then sort of shut the interview down and said, \u2018We\u2019ll look at it, and then make a decision.’\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s not the first time that Kravitz has been on the wrong side of Red Bull personnel, nor will it likely be the last time. <\/p>\n Max Verstappen boycotted questions from Kravitz<\/a> after the presenter made a comment at the 2022 United States Grand Prix regarding the events that led to the Dutchman\u2019s first world title in the preceding year. <\/p>\n READ MORE:\u00a0All to know on sacked Red Bull team principal Christian Horner with net worth<\/a><\/p>\n Laurent Mekies is hesitant to make the same driver mistakes as Christian Horner at Red Bull<\/p>\n Since taking over the reins at Red Bull from Horner in July, Laurent Mekies<\/a> has yet to decide on the future of the drivers within the stable of the Austrian constructor, with Verstappen<\/a> currently the only driver at the team with a contract for the upcoming 2026 season. <\/p>\n Yuki Tsunoda\u2019s<\/a> future is looking the most questionable. <\/p>\n DRIVERTEAMFranco ColapintoAlpine*George RussellMercedesAndrea Kimi AntonelliMercedesLiam LawsonRacing BullsIsack HadjarRacing BullsYuki TsunodaRed BullDrivers out of contract at the end of the 2025 F1 season He has failed to replicate the results of his high-flying teammate, and Helmut Marko is keen on placing Isack Hadjar at Red Bull<\/a>, given his impressive rookie season with the Faenza-based team.<\/p>\n![\"Christian](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/GettyImages-2222624981-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo by Mark Thompson\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
*Franco Colapinto on a race-by-race contract<\/p>\n