The English press has been relentless with Liam Lawson after his disastrous debut at the 2025 Australian Grand Prix. The New Zealand driver, who replaced Checo Pérez at Red Bull, received the worst rating of the weekend, triggering criticism and speculation about his future in Formula 1.
The Melbourne circuit was a true ordeal for Lawson, who faced problems from the practice sessions. A qualifying session to forget and an accident during the race sealed a weekend to be forgotten.
Red Bull attempted to justify Lawson's performance by attributing it to his lack of experience at the Albert Park circuit. However, the British press was not convinced, suggesting that Checo Pérez, with his experience, could have achieved better results in that situation.
Ted Kravitz, a Sky Sports journalist from the UK, commented: "Let’s be fair to him, he was in a difficult situation, but somewhere in Guadalajara, Mexico, a man named Sergio is laughing out loud. I think it’s unfair, but today Sergio might feel he could have done better than 18th place."
The shadow of Checo Pérez looms over Red Bull due to the controversial decisions regarding the dismissal of the Mexican driver. With his experience and good results in the past, Pérez is nostalgically remembered by many fans and experts who consider his departure a mistake.
The English press continues to question Red Bull's decisions and fuel the debate about Liam Lawson's future in Formula 1. Meanwhile, the standout performance of four-time champion Max Verstappen is the most positive aspect for the Austrian team, as he secured second place in the opening race of the 2025 season.
It is inevitable that Liam Lawson's work will now receive more attention than expected, amid analyses and doubts about his performance and future in the highest category of motorsport.
