The Formula 1 world is ablaze following explosive statements from Liam Lawson, the young driver Red Bull tried to sell as the next big thing. In a twist that no one saw coming, Lawson has openly confessed that he doesn’t have what it takes to perform at the level of Sergio “Checo” Perez, the Mexican veteran who has been the target of criticism and rumours for months. And what a time to drop this bombshell! As Red Bull struggles to maintain its dominance, this failed stunt from the Austrian team has left more than a few people with their mouths open.
It all began as a sleight of hand: Red Bull, with their usual air of superiority, seemed to be preparing the ground to replace Perez with Lawson, an ambitious rookie who promised to shake up the grid. But the house of cards came crashing down when Lawson, in a recent interview, admitted his own limitation: “I know I can’t match what Checo brings to the team. He has experience, consistency… I’m still far from that.” Words that resonated like a hammer blow in Milton Keynes, where Red Bull bosses are now facing a credibility crisis.
Imagine Sergio Perez, sitting at home in Guadalajara, grinning from ear to ear. After enduring months of speculation about his departure, being branded “fickle” by the media and watching the team flirt with younger drivers, Checo must be savouring this sweet revenge. Because, while Lawson proclaims himself “the village idiot” with this disastrous move, Perez emerges as the real winner: a driver who, through his ups and downs, has proven himself indispensable to Red Bull’s success.
The fiasco does not end there. Sources close to the team say that Christian Horner and Helmut Marko, the architects of this manoeuvre, are furious. They had bet on Lawson as a pressure card against Perez, hoping that the Mexican would give in to the threat of a generational change. But the plan backfired: far from intimidating Checo, they have strengthened him. Now, with the 2025 season Grand Prix approaching, the question in the paddock is clear: how will Red Bull get out of this ridiculous situation?
Fans have not remained silent. On social media, the mockery of Lawson and Red Bull is relentless: “From trickster to clown in one move,” wrote one user, while another noted: “Checo is still having the last laugh, as always.” And with good reason. Pérez, with his experience on the track and his ability to stand firm under pressure, has turned this scandal into a personal victory without even lifting a finger.
The curtain has not yet fallen on this saga. Will Red Bull continue to insist on Lawson despite his confession? Or will they admit that they underestimated a Perez who, against all odds, remains the pillar of the team? One thing is certain: in this game of speed and strategy, Sergio Perez has shown that he not only runs fast on the track, but also knows how to win off it. Let the grid tremble!
