Liam Lawson has been reminded that his Formulation 1 “dream” remains to be alive regardless of a turbulent season for the 23-year-old.
After competing in simply 11 grands prix unfold over the earlier two seasons with AlphaTauri and VCARB, Lawson was handed the quickest promotion of any Pink Bull junior driver within the programme’s historical past when he was requested to switch Sergio Perez on the finish of final yr.
However after simply two torturous races behind the wheel of the RB21 in Australia and China, Pink Bull workforce principal Christian Horner and advisor Helmut Marko took the troublesome choice to demote Lawson again to the ‘sister’ workforce, and promote Yuki Tsunoda, who had been neglected in favour of the New Zealander in December.
Lawson’s three-race return to Racing Bulls to date has not all been plain crusing as he has completed seventeenth, sixteenth and twelfth within the races in Japan, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, ending behind team-mate Isack Hadjar on every event.
Bayer concedes the driving force change so early within the season was removed from ultimate, made at a time when the workforce was discovering its toes with Tsunoda and Hadjar as its pairing.
“We spent lots of time over winter creating as a workforce,” mentioned Racing Bulls CEO Peter Bayer, talking to RacingNews365. “It felt like final yr we have been on an excellent trajectory. We had realized loads from the constructive moments and not-so-positive moments we went via as a workforce.
“Laurent [Mekies, team principal] and the fellows have executed a tremendous job specializing in the automobile and its drivability, the small particulars, understanding it higher after what we skilled final yr, and that was the main target.
“Alternatively, the main target was additionally to ascertain our lineup. We did lots of work with Yuki, and with Isack we instantly had an excellent connection.
“Then I had a name from Helmut after China, and he mentioned they have been serious about making a transfer, that the strain on Liam was rising, that he was discovering it troublesome, and the testing in Bahrain did not work.
“To me, in that very second, it was not excellent news, as a result of there was nice concord within the workforce. You would see the automobile was quick, and the drivers have been pleased. Aside from a few small hiccups, we have been off to an excellent begin.”
Recognising a part of the workforce’s function is to develop younger drivers, Bayer added: “Half of the grid went via this workforce, completely different names, so we have been extraordinarily pleased for Yuki to make that transfer [to Red Bull]. Since I’ve recognized Yuki, it has been his dream.
“I am satisfied he’ll do an excellent job. I am very sure about that. On the similar time, Liam coming again to us was excellent news. Everyone knows and like him, and we have been unhappy to see him go.
“There was a thought final yr we might proceed with Yuki and Liam, that we might construct and develop collectively as a workforce, as a result of that is the place yow will discover efficiency.
“In a means, we’re used to it [driver changes]. The workforce has proven nice positivity round it, and Liam is a part of the household.”
Unhappy the way it occurred for Lawson
Bayer has confirmed that upon his return to the workforce, Lawson was removed from pleased, recognising his dream of driving for Pink Bull was over after simply two grands prix.
It took a dialog between the 2 for Lawson to grasp he nonetheless had a lot to supply to F1, and his alternative had removed from handed him by.
“He was actually unhappy at the way it all went down as a result of it simply occurred,” mentioned Bayer. “After I met him for the primary time [after the return move], he got here to Faenza for the seat match, and I mentioned to him that we have been genuinely pleased to have him again.
“I advised him it could take him a second to get via this, as a result of he’d achieved his lifelong dream, and all of the sudden that dream was over. However the fact is, the dream continues as a result of he is nonetheless a Formulation 1 driver.
“I mentioned, ‘You are in an excellent automobile, with an excellent workforce, you are in a cheerful place, so simply try to construct on that once more and go racing, and we’ll aid you with it’. And that is what he is executed. We’re constructing and dealing with him.”
As as to if Lawson will get a second probability and someday return to Pink Bull, Bayer will not be ruling it out.
“There are such a lot of ifs, thens and whens, however theoretically, I assume it’s doable,” mentioned Bayer. “For that to occur, Pink Bull drivers must battle in a means that Pink Bull needs to make a change.
“They should look once more, and they’re going to take a look at the 2 drivers presently on this workforce, after which the one who has the very best marks on the time will in all probability get the possibility.”
