Lawson’s Return to Racing Bulls Marred by Strategy Blunder at Japan Grand Prix
Liam Lawson’s highly anticipated return to Formula one with Racing Bulls at the Japan Grand Prix ended in frustration after a questionable strategy call left him struggling in 17th place. The race, held at the Suzuka Circuit on April 6, 2025, saw teammate Isaac hager secure a points-paying 8th-place finish, highlighting the missed prospect for Lawson.
Suzuka Struggle: Lawson’s Race of Disappointment
The 2025 Formula One season is already proving to be a rollercoaster, and the Japan Grand Prix was no exception for Liam Lawson. While the young New Zealander, born Feb. 11, 2002, aimed to capitalize on the Racing Bulls’ VCARB 02’s driver-kind characteristics, a series of setbacks hampered his progress. The VCARB 02 has been lauded for its wider setup window compared to the Red Bull RB21, making it, in theory, easier to pilot.
Team representative Laurent Mekies expressed optimism before the race, but Lawson’s weekend unraveled early. Failing to advance to Q3 in qualifying put him on the back foot. A costly mistake at the start of the race, allowing Yuki Tsunoda to overtake, further compounded his woes.
The Suzuka Circuit, a track renowned for its challenging layout and limited overtaking opportunities, offered little respite. The recent resurfacing, aimed at improving grip, inadvertently reduced tyre degradation, making the one-stop strategy the preferred choice for most teams. This placed even greater emphasis on a flawless execution of strategy, something that eluded Lawson and his team.
strategic Gamble Backfires: “I Pulled Too Hard”
In a bid to salvage a points finish, the Racing Bulls team opted for a bold strategy, intentionally extending Lawson’s first stint. The gamble, though, proved unsuccessful, resulting in a loss of valuable track position. Team engineer Ernesto Digiderio took responsibility for the miscalculation, admitting over the radio, I pulled too hard in hopes of a safety car coming out.
Lawson’s response, What’s that?
encapsulated the frustration felt by the driver following the race.
The decision to extend the first stint, hoping for a safety car, is a high-risk, high-reward strategy.A safety car at the right moment can allow a driver to gain significant track position during a pit stop. However, the risk is that without a safety car, the prolonged stint on older tires leads to a loss of pace and increased vulnerability to being overtaken. This is akin to a football team going for it on fourth down deep in thier own territory – the potential reward is huge, but the consequences of failure are severe.
Lawson attempted to explain the situation, There’s not much to say. I just pulled the stint out.I think I was trying to try something else, but it didn’t work.
He acknowledged the difficult circumstances, stating, It was tough from the start. It was really difficult. But I think we can learn from this time.
Lawson also added, I’m learning to get used to the car and push. I was able to get a good pace throughout the weekend, but I couldn’t get it when I needed it.
pressure Mounts: Marco Sets High Expectations
With the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grand Prixs following Suzuka in swift succession, Lawson faces a crucial opportunity to bounce back from his disappointing return. However, red Bull motorsports advisor Helmut Marco has raised the stakes, setting a high bar for the young driver.
Qualification was a problem,but he’s going to make a comeback and I’m hoping to score points in the next few games,
Marco stated,effectively placing a “top 10 finish” target on Lawson for the upcoming races.This kind of pressure is not uncommon in Formula One, where drivers are constantly evaluated and expected to deliver results. This “sink or swim” habitat is a hallmark of the sport, similar to the intense competition seen in major league sports in the U.S., such as the NFL or NBA.
Marco also lauded Yuki Tsunoda, who is in his first race after being promoted to Red Bull, for demonstrating a pace comparable to Max Verstappen, except for qualifying. It is at the level we are looking for“They praised positively.He also praised Haja, who finished 8th in one of the most difficult courses, Suzuka, and won his first career prize, as a “talented young player.”
Race Results and Looking Ahead
The Japan grand Prix saw Max Verstappen (Red Bull) secure his 64th career win with a dominant pole-to-win performance. Lando Norris and oscar Piastri, both driving for McLaren, finished second and third, respectively.
The Formula One circus now heads to the Bahrain International Circuit for the Bahrain Grand prix, with Free Practice 1 scheduled for April 11th.
