Liam Lawson handed key F1 backing after ‘very messy’ Red Bull stint

Racing Bulls believe Liam Lawson is "professional enough" to put his Red Bull disappointment behind him, as he confessed to a "very messy" spell with the team.

Lawson was promoted over the winter from Racing Bulls to replace the axed Sergio Perez, but suffered the chop himself after just two races, and one Sprint, with the team being dropped back to Racing Bulls for the Japanese GP. 

The New Zealander had never driven at Australia's Albert Park or China's Shanghai circuits, and missed FP3 in the former due to a turbo failure, but his performances were still not deemed worthy of a reprieve as Yuki Tsunoda took his spot. 

Reflecting on Lawson's state of mind ahead, sporting director Alan Permane believes he is capable of mentally shutting the Red Bull period out.

“It was obviously very short and of course he wanted it to go better,” Permane told media including RacingNews365.

“There is no question of that, and I’m sure he’d much rather be there than here, and everything had gone smoothly. 

“I’m sure he is disappointed but he is professional enough to realise that that chapter is finished and to get on with this. 

“And then, who knows what happens in the future.”

As for Lawson himself, the Kiwi does not believe his self-confidence was dented by the demotion, which makes him the shortest-serving Red Bull driver of all-time. 

“Confidence-wise, nothing has really changed from the start of the year,” he said. 

“I didn’t spend anywhere near enough time for me to reflect on those two races to go: ‘Oh my god, I’ve really struggled in this car and lost my ability.’

“It wasn’t like that, I did two races which were very messy due to a lot of factors, so I think confidence-wise, it didn’t really change anything.”