Lawson receives 'great story' boost by F1 rival after Red Bull axe

Alex Albon is adamant Liam Lawson has a "really great story to tell" after being dropped by Red Bull just two rounds into his tenure at the Milton Keynes squad.

The team opted to send the New Zealander back to Racing Bulls ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, after he failed to score any points across the opening two weekends of the year.

Yuki Tsunoda has been promoted to the seat alongside Max Verstappen in his place, but as a former team-mate of the Dutchman, Albon believes Lawson has been gifted an opportunity to "put himself back on the map" at Suzuka.

The 28-year-old mused about how "amazing" it would be to see Lawson prove his doubters wrong after the crushing blow just 13 grands prix into his F1 career.

"I'm not so much focused on him being written back into Racing Bulls, but more as in, I think he's got a really good opportunity now to get back into a car that he's comfortable with, and he has a really great story to tell," Albon told media including RacingNews365. "I see it more as an opportunity.

"How amazing would it be to come to this weekend, deliver a great result, and put himself back on the map - just as he did before the start of the season, let's say, and bounce back strongly."

Albon: Lawson will be 'just fine'

Albon has just one more grands prix under his belt than Lawson did at the start of the year when he replaced Pierre Gasly at Red Bull mid-way through his rookie season in 2019.

The Thai driver lasted just 18 months before the six-time constructors' champions had seen enough, with Sergio Perez brought in to replace him.

After a year out in 2021, Albon found fresh life at Williams, where he has shown himself to be one, like Gasly, of the strongest drivers currently competing in F1's midfield.

Having raced against Lawson in DTM, Albon insists the switch back to Racing Bulls is not a career killer for the 23-year-old.

"It's not a career-ender for Liam at all," the two-time podium finisher said. "It's how you use this opportunity.

"He's still young, he's still inexperienced. I know Liam. I obviously raced against him in DTM, and know how quick he is - and how quick he was in that series.

“I think he will bounce back, and he'll be just fine."