Liam Lawson has become the latest driver to fall victim to Red Bull’s harsh decision-making, joining the long list of racers who have been dismissed by the team after brief stints.
Starting from the early days of Red Bull in Formula 1, Christian Klien was the first to experience the team’s unforgiving approach. Klien initially secured a seat over Vitantonio Liuzzi in 2005 and showed promise, but was replaced by Liuzzi for four races. When Liuzzi underperformed, Klien returned for the rest of the season. Despite this, Klien was dropped in favor of Robert Doornbos in the final 2006 race and neither retained their seats as Red Bull signed Mark Webber for 2007.
Scott Speed made history as the first American F1 driver since 1993 when he raced for Toro Rosso in 2006. However, after a poor start in 2007 and no points scored, Speed was replaced by Sebastian Vettel. Reports surfaced of a disagreement between Speed and team principal Franz Tost, but it was denied publicly before Speed’s departure after 10 races.
Sebastian Bourdais joined Vettel at Toro Rosso but struggled to match his teammate’s pace, often hindered by bad luck, including a retirement due to engine failure and a controversial penalty that cost him points. After Vettel’s promotion to Red Bull, Bourdais was paired with rookie Sébastien Buemi in 2009 but got dropped mid-season due to unmet expectations.
Sébastien Buemi, entering F1 at just 20, showed strong potential and finished as the best rookie in his debut season. He consistently outperformed Toro Rosso teammates until being cut in 2012 to make way for Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Éric Vergne. Buemi later found success in Formula E and endurance racing and remains within the Red Bull family as a reserve driver.
Jaime Alguersuari, debuting at 19 in 2009 as the youngest driver in F1, scored 31 points over 46 starts but was eventually dropped alongside Buemi to welcome Ricciardo and Vergne. After racing briefly in Formula E, Alguersuari left motorsports in 2015 to pursue a DJ career under the name “Squire.”
Jean-Éric Vergne joined Toro Rosso in 2012 alongside Ricciardo, outperforming him in their first season but was unlucky never to be promoted to Red Bull. Despite finishing ahead of Ricciardo and showing promise, he was overlooked in favor of Daniil Kvyat in 2014 and later Max Verstappen, missing out on Red Bull’s main team twice.
Daniil Kvyat has perhaps been the most impacted by Red Bull’s ruthless tactics. After a strong rookie season, Kvyat’s career nosedived following collisions with Sebastian Vettel in 2016, earning him the notorious “torpedo” label. He was swiftly demoted to Toro Rosso to make room for Max Verstappen, marking the harsh reality for young drivers under Red Bull. After bouncing between Toro Rosso and Red Bull, Kvyat was eventually replaced by Yuki Tsunoda in 2021.
Brendon Hartley got his chance at Red Bull in 2018 but struggled through a tough season alongside faster teammates, accumulating just three points in 21 races. His performance led to a quick exit from the Red Bull driver program.
Pierre Gasly’s stint with Red Bull was short-lived in 2019, lasting only 12 races before being sent back to Toro Rosso. Despite earning a podium at the 2020 Italian GP, Gasly struggled to match teammate Verstappen’s championship points, limiting his tenure at the top team.
Alex Albon failed to match Verstappen’s success during his 18 months with Red Bull, even after earning two podiums. The team demoted him to a reserve role in 2021 when Sergio Pérez joined and he later found renewed success with Williams.
Sergio Pérez, arriving as a stronger teammate to Verstappen, spent four seasons with Red Bull. His solid performances helped Red Bull contend for championships, including crucial support during Verstappen’s title run. However, his inconsistency and recent struggles in 2023 and 2024 led to his replacement.
Liam Lawson stepped in for Pérez in the 2025 season after a promising run with the Red Bull junior team but lasted only two races. He struggled with the RB21 car, failing to advance beyond early qualifying rounds, and was replaced by Yuki Tsunoda, returning Lawson to the sister Racing Bulls team.
Fan Take: Red Bull’s relentless approach to managing young talent highlights their high standards and the unforgiving nature of Formula 1. This cycle of rapid promotions and harsh cutting not only shapes driver careers but also keeps fans on edge, reflecting the intense pressure and competitiveness that define the sport.
