Piastri criticizes fans and fellow racers: 'Very easy to be naive'

On the topic of the 'controversial' Liam Lawson demotion, Oscar Piastri stood up for the New Zealander. The McLaren driver thinks that Lawson has more potential that was being shown at the Australian and Chinese Grands Prix.

Piastri on Lawson/Tsunoda switch 

When asked for his opinion about the swap of Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda at Red Bull Racing, Piastri said, "It's not really my place to comment." He continued, "What we've seen from Liam in the first two races is not a reflection of his talent."

"I've raced Liam for a number of years, and I think he's an incredibly competitive driver."

Lawson had a tough two races with Red Bull Racing, which Piastri commented on.

"I don't think that the results he showed in the first two rounds are indicative of what he's capable of. And I'll leave it at that."

'Very easy to be naive'

Later in the session, Piastri mentioned how hard it was to be a Formula 1 driver and if people underestimated what it took. "I would say yes. I think it's not easy, and I think also as drivers coming into the sport, it's very easy to be naive about the challenge ahead of you." 

The 2025 season had five rookies joining the grid, but only Lawson and Kimi Antonelli went into top teams.

"In some ways that's a good thing, in some ways that's not a good thing. Also coming in at the front of the grid is a different challenge to being further towards the back."

Lawson only had 11 starts before being promoted to Red Bull Racing for his first full season in Formula 1.

Pressure on Lawson from Red Bull 

"I think for Liam, especially going up a four-time world champion in a car that looks from the outside pretty tough to handle, it certainly adds another element, I'm sure."

The Australian concluded, "I think for me when I joined the team we were not really a front-running team at that point but I would imagine it definitely adds were not really a front-running team at that point but I would imagine it definitely adds another element of pressure."

This article was written in collaboration with Kim Hoefnagel.

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