Christian Horner on Chinese GP Performance Amid Driver Speculation
Shanghai, China – Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner addressed the media following the Chinese Grand Prix, reflecting on the team’s performance and ongoing speculation regarding Liam Lawson’s future in Formula 1.
Despite Max Verstappen finishing fourth in the race, Red Bull faced challenges with tire degradation and car balance throughout the weekend. Horner noted that while Max Verstappen displayed strong pace towards the latter half of the race, the team had initially been cautious with tire management.
“With 20/20 hindsight, we saw the pace at the end, and we could have probably pushed that first stint quite a bit harder,” Horner said. “That would have probably seen us racing George [Russell] at the end of the race. The last third of the race, the car really came alive, and Max was the quickest on the circuit at that point.”
Liam Lawson vs. Yuki Tsunoda: Uncertainty Over Future
Amid performance discussions, the topic of Liam Lawson’s struggles in the Red Bull seat was raised as the young New Zealander finished P15. Lawson has faced difficulties adapting to the car, leading to speculation about a potential change, with Yuki Tsunoda’s name circulating as a possible replacement.
“Liam has had a tough couple of races. We elected to take him off the grid …to do a significant setup change, and we got some reasonable data from that,” Horner explained. “We’ll take that away and do our best to support him.”
When pressed about the possibility of a driver change, Horner remained cautious: “There’s always going to be speculation in the paddock. We’ve only just finished the race here. We’ll take away the info and have a good look at it.”
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko had reportedly mentioned an upcoming meeting to discuss Lawson’s future, but Horner downplayed its significance. “Look, there’s nothing specific that’s been set up,” he responded when asked about the discussions.
A Difficult Red Bull Car?
Horner acknowledged that Red Bull’s car is challenging to drive, making it difficult for Lawson to adapt compared to his competitors.
“The car is difficult to drive, and Max is able to adjust to that,” Horner said. “Liam is struggling with confidence in the car right now, which is why we made some significant changes today to see if we could find a more confidence-inspiring setup for him.”
He also addressed comparisons between the Red Bull and Racing Bulls cars, noting that the latter is “more stable on entry and probably has a bit more understeer,” which can make it easier to drive for some drivers. “Finding the limit in a car with inherent understeer is always going to be easier than in a car that has a little more energy.”
Looking Ahead to Japan
With two races completed in the 2025 season, Red Bull sits third in the constructors’ standings, and Verstappen trails in the drivers’ championship by eight points. Horner emphasized that the team is working hard to improve performance before the Japanese Grand Prix.
“We know we need to put performance on the car,” he said. “We’ve taken a lot of information from this weekend, and with a two-week gap to Japan, we need to come back fighting hard.”
As speculation around Lawson’s future continues, Red Bull will be under scrutiny in Suzuka to see whether the young driver remains in the seat or if the team decides to make a switch early in the season.
Yuki Tsunoda needs to remain patient for a possible seat at the Red Bull Racing team or simply wish to stay at the junior team as it obviously the more competitive car right now.
