Liam Lawson’s path through Red Bull’s talent conveyor belt has never been smooth, and his 2025 campaign is already teetering on another cliff-edge.
Montoya Sounds the Alarm
Juan Pablo Montoya did not mince words when assessing the Kiwi’s situation.
“I’ll tell you the truth. If Liam doesn’t improve any further, I wouldn’t be surprised if they put Lindblad in at some point. Not at all. I wouldn’t be a little surprised,” he told AS.
The Colombian’s verdict reflects a stark reality: Racing Bulls demand points, and Lawson has yet to score while rookie teammate Isack Hadjar has pocketed five.
Lawson’s Tumultuous Season
Lawson began 2025 riding a roller-coaster.
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.
The demotion has dented momentum and confidence alike, leaving him scrapping for midfield scraps rather than podium dreams.
Montoya believes the prior promotion—and the way it unraveled—still weighs heavily.
“Honestly, 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.”
Psychological Aftermath of a Brutal Exit
Yet the same opportunity came with a sting.
“The 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,” Montoya added.
He argues that Lawson’s form slump stems less from raw speed and more from the mental bruising of being promoted and dropped in rapid succession.
Red Bull’s environment affords little recuperation time.
“And if he doesn’t recover soon, I’m sure Red Bull will start looking elsewhere because that’s how they work.”
Lindblad Waiting in the Wings
That “elsewhere” has a name: Arvid Lindblad.
The 17-year-old is already being spoken of in the same breath as past academy stars.
Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko recently told the Inside Line F1 podcast, “We 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.”
Marko underlined that previous juniors lacked extensive F1 test mileage.
“I 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.”
“For example, Liam Lawson didn’t have this opportunity, and also [Isack] Hadjar, to a certain amount, didn’t have this opportunity.”
“And 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.”
A Pivotal Summer Ahead
With the European leg of the calendar looming, Lawson has a narrow window to flip the narrative.
Clean weekends, smart tyre calls, and a breakthrough points finish could buy breathing room; more qualifying missteps will only amplify Lindblad’s shadow.
“It’s Red Bull, it’s a bit like what’s happening with Alpine right now. Whenever Franco [Colapinto] doesn’t do well, the same thing will happen,” Montoya concluded.
For Lawson, surviving that ruthless logic means turning potential into points—immediately.