Overview
- Lawson told the High Performance Podcast Monday that he entered the 2025 Red Bull seat with almost no pre-season testing, citing only half a day in Jerez and compromised running in Bahrain that left him underprepared.
- He says the team collectively agreed to a radical setup change in Shanghai that had him start from the pit lane and badly degraded the front tyres, a move he describes as having 'destroyed' his race.
- Lawson says he had no warning the seat swap was coming and learned by phone after returning to the UK that he would be moved back to the Red Bull sister team in exchange for Yuki Tsunoda.
- He rejects the widely circulated story that Red Bull removed him to protect his mental wellbeing and says Max Verstappen privately supported him as he rebuilt his form with Racing Bulls and scored points in 2026.
- The account underscores how tiny sample sizes and limited mileage can produce misleading judgments in modern F1 and is likely to renew scrutiny of Red Bull's rapid driver decisions and management practices.