Liam Lawson\u2019s path through Red Bull\u2019s talent conveyor belt has never been smooth, and his 2025 campaign is already teetering on another cliff-edge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Juan Pablo Montoya did not mince words when assessing the Kiwi\u2019s situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ll tell you the truth. If Liam doesn\u2019t improve any further, I wouldn\u2019t be surprised if they put Lindblad in at some point. Not at all. I wouldn\u2019t be a little surprised,\u201d he told AS<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Colombian\u2019s verdict reflects a stark reality: Racing Bulls demand points, and Lawson has yet to score while rookie teammate Isack Hadjar has pocketed five.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lawson began 2025 riding a roller-coaster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He started the year in the senior Red Bull seat, deputising for the injured Sergio Perez, only to be shuffled back to Racing Bulls after two rounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The demotion has dented momentum and confidence alike, leaving him scrapping for midfield scraps rather than podium dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Montoya believes the prior promotion\u2014and the way it unraveled\u2014still weighs heavily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHonestly, Liam has been given the green light last year and has proven that he has what it takes to do a good job. They gave him the Red Bull seat, and he won it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yet the same opportunity came with a sting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Red Bull situation was complicated and I think it took a very strong blow to his liver, and he needs a lot of psychological treatment after that,\u201d Montoya added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He argues that Lawson\u2019s form slump stems less from raw speed and more from the mental bruising of being promoted and dropped in rapid succession.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Red Bull\u2019s environment affords little recuperation time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd if he doesn\u2019t recover soon, I\u2019m sure Red Bull will start looking elsewhere because that\u2019s how they work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n That \u201celsewhere\u201d has a name: Arvid Lindblad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The 17-year-old is already being spoken of in the same breath as past academy stars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko recently told the Inside Line F1<\/em> podcast, \u201cWe are not looking for a new Max, we are looking for a new champion and I think the next one which looks really promising is Arvid Lindblad.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Marko underlined that previous juniors lacked extensive F1 test mileage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI think in the past, if I compare with [Jack] Doohan, or with [Oscar] Piastri, or also with [Oliver] Bearman, they had a lot of tests in the two-year-old version Formula 1 car.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFor example, Liam Lawson didn\u2019t have this opportunity, and also [Isack] Hadjar, to a certain amount, didn\u2019t have this opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd this we will change for Arvid that he, if he makes a very good season in Formula 2, that he can go with good experience into Formula 1 in 2026. Maybe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nLawson\u2019s Tumultuous Season<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Psychological Aftermath of a Brutal Exit<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lindblad Waiting in the Wings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A Pivotal Summer Ahead<\/h3>\n\n\n\n