FORMULA ONE star Liam Lawson has been warned he faces the sack after just one race at new team Red Bull.
Lawson, 23, was one of six drivers who crashed out during last weekend’s chaotic Australian Grand Prix.
Liam Lawson has been warned he faces the Red Bull sack if he doesn’t improve quickly[/caption]
Martin Brundle warned Red Bull do not do hugs but instead do P45s[/caption]
Lawson crashed on his Red Bull debut during the Australian Grand Prix[/caption]
The New Zealander was making his debut for Red Bull after being promoted into Sergio Perez’s seat from the sister team, VCARB – now Racing Bulls.
However, Lawson – one of six rookies on the grid this season – had a race weekend to forget after being eliminated in Q1 during qualifying and then crashing out of the race on lap 47.
And he has now been warned by Sky Sports F1 pundit Martin Brundle that he needs to improve his performances fast if he is to retain his position on the grid.
Brundle warned: “Liam Lawson of Red Bull, in particular, will be very happy that we head immediately into another race week so that he can hopefully park the misery and errors he endured in Melbourne and put them right.
“That team doesn’t do cuddles and reassuring words, and nor should they at this level.”
The no cuddles and reassuring words sentiment has already been displayed for Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar, who burst into tears after crashing during the formation lap of last weekend’s race.
While the 20-year-old – known to be a Lewis Hamilton fan – was consoled by Anthony Hamilton, Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko called the act “a bit embarrassing”.
Brundle added on Lawson: “P45s (Tax letter given to an employee in the UK from an employer upon leaving a job) are more their thing if you can’t keep Verstappen at least in view from time to time.”
The seat Lawson currently occupies is arguably one of the most-cursed seats in the sport today, with four previous drivers failing to perform to the standards required.
Perez, Alex Albon, Pierre Gasly and Daniel Ricciardo were all undone by the pressure the seat comes with.
Albon and Gasly, in particular, can relate to Lawson in that they were also young drivers who had the seat thrust upon them, arguably at too early a stage in their F1 careers before they crumbled.
Red Bull are one of the teams to have reportedly been hit by travel chaos ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix with technical issues causing a delay in car parts arriving in Shanghai from Melbourne.
The delays have cost the mechanics at least 30 hours in preparation time and have sparked concern that cars may not be ready for FP1 on Friday.
The issues have even hit the sports tyre supplier, Pirelli, with the FIA releasing a statement giving teams more time to fit the cars due to the travel chaos.
Fortunately for Lawson and Co., the weekend is set for dry conditions throughout.
Last weekend Lawson was cheered on by stunning girlfriend and medical student Hannah St. John.
