Home
Liam Lawson’s Formula 1 journey with Red Bull is teetering on the edge—and not even a full season into his promotion. The New Zealander, once hailed as Red Bull’s next big thing after a standout 2023 substitute stint, now faces a brutal reality check. Amid lackluster performances and growing impatience, rumors swirl that Red Bull has already identified his replacement: Franco Colapinto, a 21-year-old Argentinian tied to Alpine.
But what prompted this shocking pivot, and why would Red Bull break tradition to poach an outsider? The answers reveal a high-stakes gamble—and a franchise at a crossroads.
Liam Lawson’s rapid fall from grace
Just months ago, Liam Lawson seemed destined for greatness. His 2023 cameo with Visa Cash App RB (then AlphaTauri) included a points finish in Singapore and praise for his maturity. But his 2025 promotion has backfired. While not disastrous, Lawson’s results—struggling to match teammate Yuki Tsunoda’s pace and failing to dazzle in qualifying—have irked Red Bull’s notoriously ruthless hierarchy.
Insiders claim the final straw came at the Chinese Grand Prix, where Liam Lawson’s anonymous run contrasted sharply with Tsunoda’s progress. Red Bull, a team that thrives on dominance, has little patience for “good enough.” With Sergio Perez’s Red Bull seat already under scrutiny, Lawson’s inability to seize his opportunity has left him vulnerable. Now, reports suggest he may lose his seat entirely—without a safety net at VCARB.
Red Bull’s radical pivot: Enter Franco Colapinto
Enter Franco Colapinto, the Williams reserve driver now on Alpine’s books. The Argentinian’s composed 2024 fill-in performances for Logan Sargeant turned heads, showcasing racecraft beyond his years. Though Williams opted for Carlos Sainz in 2025, Colapinto’s talent made him a hot commodity. Alpine snapped him up as a reserve, but Red Bull’s sudden interest could upend those plans.
Colapinto’s appeal? Raw potential and marketability. At 21, he fits Red Bull’s youth-centric mold, but his outsider status marks a seismic shift. Historically, Red Bull’s driver pipeline—think Verstappen, Vettel, Ricciardo—relied solely on homegrown juniors. Pursuing Colapinto signals desperation, a tacit admission that their famed academy is drying up.
Red Bull’s identity crisis
Red Bull’s rumored move for Colapinto isn’t just about Liam Lawson—it’s about survival. Their junior program, once an F1 talent factory, now lacks star power. Recent graduates like Ayumu Iwasa and Isack Hadjar haven’t dazzled, leaving VCARB as a revolving door rather than a proving ground. By eyeing Colapinto, Red Bull risks alienating loyalists who cherish their “build, don’t buy” ethos.
But the stakes are higher than pride. With Max Verstappen’s dominance masking deeper issues, Red Bull’s hierarchy knows they need fresh blood—fast. Colapinto offers a reset button: a hungry, moldable talent untainted by Red Bull’s pressure cooker.
Fan fury and the road ahead
For fans, Lawson’s potential ouster feels unjust. Many argue he deserves more time, especially after Red Bull fast-tracked him over Tsunoda. Social media buzzes with frustration, accusing the team of impatience. Meanwhile, Colapinto’s arrival would test Alpine’s resolve, possibly triggering a contractual tug-of-war.
As the Japanese Grand Prix looms, Red Bull faces a defining choice: Stick with tradition or embrace a risky new era. For Liam Lawson, it’s a brutal lesson in F1’s cutthroat nature. For Colapinto? A chance to prove that sometimes, the best talent comes from outside the system.
