Kiwi Liam Lawson’s future in Formula 1 could become a little clearer this week with the possibility of an announcement about Red Bull driver Sergio Perez’s plans.
Driving for Red Bull’s sister team RB, Lawson finished 14th in the Qatar Grand Prix yesterday morning, while the under-pressure Perez failed to finish.
Lawson started 17th on the grid and was in early trouble, being dished a 10-second penalty for making contact with Valtteri Bottas. That was on the lap five restart, as Lawson was attempting to pass Bottas and spun backwards off the track.
Lawson later apologised for causing the collision.
‘‘I thought I had more grip than I did and I went into turn one trying to obviously make the move.
‘‘I got halfway around the corner and realised I didn’t have the grip,’’ the New Zealander told reporters after the race.
‘‘I think I spun because I was trying not to hit Valtteri, and I guess I did, so I’m sorry for that. It wasn’t my intention.’’
Lawson never threatened the top 10 and, with a fateful late decision by his team to switch him and team-mate Yuki Tsunoda to soft tyres, the pair then struggled home with the Japanese driver one place ahead of him.
Meanwhile, Verstappen’s team-mate Perez was travelling well in the top 10 before spinning off mid-race and failing to finish.
The Mexican has picked up just 12 points in his last eight races, not good enough for the Red Bull team which won the constructors’ championship last season but can finish no higher than third in 2024.
That has led to many Formula 1 commentators suggesting they will drop Perez for the 2025 season.
He does have a contract, but Formula 1 is a cut-throat business and they could well buy him out of it.
After yesterday’s race, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner was asked if he would give Perez the opportunity to announce his own future before the final round in Abu Dhabi next weekend.
‘‘It’s very frustrating to be out of the constructors’ (championship) because that is where the financial revenues are distributed on,’’ Horner told Sky Sport.
‘‘He (Perez) is not enjoying the situation that he is in at the moment. He knows the pressure of this business.
‘‘We are going to give him all the support we can to the chequered flag in Abu Dhabi next weekend and what he decides to do that will be his decision.
‘‘He’s old enough and wise enough to come to his own conclusions.’’
