- Kiwi star has been shunted by team after just two races
- Followed a disastrous run of results in Melbourne and China
Axed F1 star Liam Lawson has given his fans an emotional reminder of how his childhood dream has been shattered by his brutal removal from Red Bull after just two races for the team.
The 23-year-old’s demise was announced on Thursday, with team principal Christian Horner saying Lawson’s results – qualifying 18th in Australia before crashing out of the race, then qualifying last in China before finishing 18th in the race – were ‘difficult’ for him to watch.
Red Bull’s ruthless decision reportedly left Max Verstappen ‘shaken’ and the world champion went on to like a social media post from a former F1 driver who suggested the sacking crushed Lawson’s spirit and was ‘closer to bullying’ than a decision based purely on performance.
Now Lawson has given fans more reason to feel for him in a heartfelt Instgram post that included two images illustrating the fact he’d been desperate from the job since his boyhood.
‘Being a @redbullracing driver has been my dream since I was a kid, it’s what I’ve worked towards my whole life,’ he wrote.
‘It’s tough, but im grateful for everything that’s brought me to this point.
Liam Lawson (pictured left at the Chinese Grand Prix) has given his fans another reason to feel for him over his brutal sacking by Red Bull
The Kiwi driver posted a photo of him as a young boy as he gave a school presentation on his dream to become an F1 star
He 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’
‘To every one of you who’s stood by me, thank you for all the support it means the world.’
One of the images shows a very young Lawson as he gave a school presentation on his dream of being a racing driver, with the other showing a drawing he made at a young age listing his dream job as ‘F1 driver’.
The New Zealander’s girlfriend, Hannah St John, also took to the platform to react to his dismissal.
She shared a simple black-and-white photo of them holding hands, complete with a love-heart emoji.
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.
Lawson will now drive for Racing Bulls at next weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix.
The team is owned by Red Bull and Lawson steered for them last year before being promoted to join Verstappen – and his 2024 co-driver, Japan’s Yuki Tsunoda, is now stepping up to replace him.
Lawson’s girlfriend Hannah St John (pictured together) also took to social media to back her man after his record-setting axing
The New Zealander’s former Racing Bulls teammate Yuki Tsunoda (pictured) will now take over from him as Max Verstappen’s teammate
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.
‘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.’
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.’
