F1 News
Albon jumps to defend Lawson after his tough first race at Red Bull
Liam Lawson's first weekend as a Red Bull Racing driver was challenging. However, the New Zealander will have another opportunity to prove himself this weekend at the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai. Alexander Albon, who previously raced alongside Verstappen, understands the difficulties of being his teammate better than most. On Thursday in China, Albon shared his thoughts on Lawson’s situation.
Albon on Lawson's first Red Bull weekend
"I think it's very early to say how he's going to do. I think for everyone out there, the conditions and the general formats of qualifying now, I think firstly, let's start with qualifying. I think qualifying is now closer than ever, which is great for everyone, but it does mean that if you're a little bit off, you're going to likely be out in Q1," Albon began.
About the Grand Prix itself, Albon said it was pretty logical that some drivers were caught out, especially given the conditions. "But then, at the same time, there's nothing really to say about race conditions. I think everyone was struggling out there. Especially the rookies and the ones with a little bit less experience were on the back foot for most of Sunday. I think you've got to give them a bit of time to get up to speed." Inexperienced drivers Isack Hadjar, Gabriel Bortoleto and Jack Doohan were also caught out. In tough conditions, even the most experienced driver on the grid, Fernando Alonso, crashed out of the race in Australia, as did Carlos Sainz.
Albon was Verstappen's teammate at Red Bull
Albon moved from Toro Rosso to Red Bull in the summer of 2019, swapping seats with Pierre Gasly. He spent a year and a half as Verstappen’s teammate before being replaced by Sergio Pérez in 2021. However, Pérez lost his seat over the winter, making way for Liam Lawson to join Red Bull alongside Verstappen for the 2025 season.
This article was written in collaboration with Esteban den Toom
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