Lawson “couldn’t care less” what Brown says on Red Bull selection

McLaren boss suggested rivals had made a mistake in choosing Liam Lawson over Yuki Tsunoda this season

Liam Lawson insists he has no interest in what McLaren CEO Zak Brown has to say on Red Bull’s choice of drivers for 2025.

Speaking after qualifying for last weekend’s Australian Grand Prix, Brown praised Yuki Tsunoda after he put his Racing Bulls fifth on the grid, while Lawson struggled and could only manage 18th in his first race for Red Bull.

Tsunoda was overlooked in favour of Lawson by Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, who opted to promote the New Zealand rookie to partner reigning champion Max Verstappen after deciding to cut ties with Sergio Perez.

That left Tsunoda facing a fifth season in the Red Bull junior team, something Brown – who has seemingly taken Toto Wolff’s place as Horner’s main antagonist – was keen to question.

“Yuki did a great job. [He is] probably the guy who should be in the Red Bull if you look at how he’s performed, but they seem to make some strange driver choices from time to time,” he said on Sky Sports.

Lawson, who replaced Daniel Ricciardo at Racing Bulls for the final six races of last season, crashed out in Melbourne to top off a forgettable first outing for Red Bull – but he was defiant when asked about Brown’s remarks.

“I couldn't care less what Zak says, to be honest,” he said ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix. “I haven't spoken to him, I don't really think ever. And I haven't read any social media for the last two weeks.

Liam Lawson, Red Bull Racing

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

“It's important to have a good weekend because obviously that's what we're here to do. I don't think after one race we can go into a spiral, but obviously we all have high expectations anyway. Melbourne was below mine personally, obviously, so we're just looking to have a good weekend.”

For Tsunoda, who felt he should have been the man to move stables and drive alongside Verstappen this season, Brown’s comments did not go unnoticed.

“I appreciated what Zak said about me in the press, but it's just one race and these things have been going on since last year, first race,” he said.

“’Oh, Daniel/Checo, you know, myself/Checo, Liam/Checo’, just this kind of a tradition for our group.

“So, I mean, it's positive, obviously, but at the same time, I just have to keep what I'm doing. In the end, they chose last year, end of the season, this line-up, and maybe they have clear plans in the future.

“I don't know, but in the end, I'm wearing this [Racing Bulls] t-shirt, I'm just wearing the logo. As long as I'm wearing the logo I'm wearing right now, I'm just pushing for that for the team and maximising performance.

“I still believe myself that there's a lot more room that I can improve myself. So, I'm just focused on that.”