Red Bull concedes it 'let Lawson down' over critical F1 failure

Red Bull has admitted it let Liam Lawson "down" with a critical failure at the Australian Grand Prix during his troubled spell at the team. 

Lawson was demoted back to Racing Bulls after the Chinese Grand Prix, having failed to score a point in either Australia or China as team-mate to Max Verstappen. 

The Kiwi had never driven at either circuit prior to practice, with China also serving as the first Sprint event of the season, limiting practice to a sole 60-minute session.

Lawson's brief stint got off to a bad start in Australia, when a turbo problem developed on his FP3 out-lap, putting him out for the session where drivers complete their qualifying simulations.

In qualifying itself at Albert Park, Lawson was dumped in Q1, believing that if he had had more low-fuel experience, a Q2 berth was possible.

Reflecting on the situation, chief engineer Paul Monaghan conceded that the team had not delivered for Lawson.

"I would say in the first two races, both cars had constructive comments, and similar comments [in terms of car feedback]," Monaghan told media including RacingNews365. 

"Liam's performance wasn't rewarded with being further up on the grid, and has been noted, we let him down in FP3 as he didn't run in Australia, and China was a Sprint race.

"You've got one hour and then you are in the mix, so having never been there, it is probably quite a tall order. 

"So in terms of two-car feedback, we've certainly had that already and I'm sure we will have it today, but how disparate they are, I'll tell you [after practice]. 

"Having two cars up there is simply a reward for all the hard work that goes in, and it is the only way we're going to compete with McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes in the constructors' championship.

"We will struggle with one car, but I don't think we'll have just one car, we'll get the other one up there and see who is around at the end and what order they are in."