Lawson's Red Bull struggle left him 'sad', CEO reveals

Liam Lawson experienced a moment of sadness following his brief and challenging stint at Red Bull Racing, according to Racing Bulls CEO Peter Bayer.

Despite Lawson's insistence in Saudi Arabia that "nothing has changed" in his confidence after struggling so intensely with the 2025 Red Bull Racing car, Bayer revealed the 23-year-old was definitely affected by the experience.

Red Bull's decision to demote Lawson back to Racing Bulls after just two races drew significant criticism in the paddock. Oliver Mintzlaff, CEO of the energy drink company, defended the move during a visit to Jeddah. "I understand that and think it's justified," Mintzlaff told Bild newspaper.

"Nevertheless, it was the right step." Mintzlaff elaborated, "Formula 1 is a high-performance sport, and his performance wasn't up to scratch. Leaving Liam in the car would have been wrong. We wouldn't have done him any favours with the ever-increasing pressure. He ultimately understood and accepted that, too. We're happy to have him back with the Racing Bulls."

Bayer, however, acknowledged the emotional toll on Lawson.

"I think it took him a while to digest," he said in Saudi Arabia. "The first time I saw him when he arrived back in Italy, he seemed a little sad. Honestly, that's how I perceived him to be. He was a little upset by everything that had happened very quickly. But at the same time, he knew the people, the tools, the organisation. And I really felt that very quickly, he became the old Liam again."

Bayer, however, praised Lawson's resilience, adding, "He's a great driver, someone with a great sense of humour, and that's what we're seeing now again."