Red Bull Chief Engineer Paul Monaghan explained the differences between Liam Lawson and Sergio Perez’s struggles at the team, putting the former’s struggles down to being the wrong fit for the Milton Keynes-based Formula 1 outfit.
Perez, already a Grand Prix veteran by the time he joined Red Bull in 2021, spent three years with the team, a period that yielded five race victories, but his final campaign with the team was fraught with struggles.
As Red Bull experienced balance issues with the RB20, Perez suffered hugely and was let go at the end of 2024.
His replacement, Lawson, has lasted just two rounds in the senior Red Bull outfit and has now swapped with Yuki Tsunoda.
Given Lawson’s struggles continuing from Perez, Monaghan was questioned in Suzuka whether that has led to a renewed focus from Red Bull to solve its issues.
Monaghan explained differing circumstances mean Red Bull has a consistent approach to problem-solving.
“I would say that’s a little speculative because it’s a different car, different year,” Monaghan said in response to the Lawson/Perez connection.
“Poor Liam, perhaps it was a round peg in a square hole, and it just didn’t work for us.
“So, what’s done is done, as far as I’m concerned. We’ll support Yuki as best we can, as we supported Liam as best we can, as we support Max.
“And don’t forget, in terms of a Constructors’ Championship, it’s in our interest to get the best out of both cars.
“So, whatever lessons we can take from the first two, from either car, we will take and we’ll put on here. And it doesn’t matter who drives it. It’s our car, our pride, it’s our championship.”
Inexperience proved costly for Lawson at Red Bull amid engineers’ concerns
Experience ultimately proved costly for Lawson, who suffered at two tracks he’d never visited before.
Compounding matters were a technical issue preventing the New Zealander from contesting FP3 in Australia and the Chinese Sprint weekend, limiting Lawson to one hour of practice.
“Obviously, Liam’s performance wasn’t rewarded with being further up the grid,” Monaghan said.
“And, as has been noted, we let him down in FP3; he didn’t run in Australia.
“China’s a sprint race; he gets a one-hour, and you’re kind of in the mix.
“So, having never been there, it was probably quite a tall order.”
All accounts from within Red Bull suggest Lawson has been sent to Racing Bulls for his own good.
Team Principal Christian Horner told Sky Sports in Japan that “I think with everything that we saw in Australia and China, you could see that it was really affecting Liam quite badly.
“We could have left it, and I think that Liam is a driver with talent. Maybe within half a season he would have got there, but we just don’t have that amount of time.
“It was something that was very clear to the engineering side within the team, just how much Liam was struggling with it all, and you could see that weight upon his shoulders.
“The engineers were coming to me very concerned about it, and at the end of the day, I think it was the logical thing to do.”
Monaghan was quizzed on Horner’s comments regarding Red Bull’s engineers, to which he responded: “I didn’t hear Christian’s comments, so I wouldn’t want to say it one way or the other.
“What he said, he said, and what’s done, is done for me.”
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