Horner offers Lawson crucial feedback after Red Bull debut shocker

Christian Horner has shared the advice he has imparted on Liam Lawson, after the New Zealanders lack of pace during the first two practice sessions at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

The 23-year-old struggled to match team-mate Max Verstappen through FP1 and FP2 - and across both short and long-run plans.

He lamented a "comfortable - just too slow" day in Melbourne, but Horner came in to bat for his driver, citing "good feedback" and the magnitude of the challenge Lawson has been tasked with.

The Red Bull team principal was quick to point out that Lawson has not raced at the Albert Park Circuit before whilst defending what drew the Milton Keynes squad to place him alongside its four-time drivers' champion. 

"Liam, it’s a big step up," the 51-year-old told Sky Sports F1. "Being Max’s team-mate is probably the toughest job in Formula 1. But he’s got the mental aptitude and strength of character to deal with that.

"He’s not been here before, I think he’s the only driver on the grid that hasn’t done some laps around this circuit. But he’s finding his feet and giving some very good feedback, he’s settling in nicely. We’ll see over the next few races."

Horner: Lawson must 'ignore what's going on...'

The Briton explained how he plans on tackling Lawson's difficult start to life at Red Bull with the driver himself.

"I think the main thing is just focus on himself," Horner replied when asked what he has told the New Zealander.

"Almost ignore what’s going on with the other car, just focus on himself, on working with his engineers and extracting the best that he can.

"He’s got a steep learning curve but everything that we’ve seen in the junior formula and the testing that he’s done with us, he’s got the ability to take that on and grow. We’ve just got to give him time."