Liam Lawson insists he has no real interest in what McLaren CEO Zak Brown has to say on Purple Bull’s selection of drivers for 2025.
Talking after qualifying for final weekend’s Australian Grand Prix, Brown praised Yuki Tsunoda after he put his Racing Bulls fifth on the grid, whereas Lawson struggled and will solely handle 18th in his first race for Purple Bull.
Tsunoda was missed in favour of Lawson by Purple Bull workforce principal Christian Horner, who opted to advertise the New Zealand rookie to accomplice reigning champion Max Verstappen after deciding to chop ties with Sergio Perez.
That left Tsunoda going through a fifth season within the Purple Bull junior workforce, one thing Brown – who has seemingly taken Toto Wolff’s place as Horner’s essential antagonist – was eager to query.
“Yuki did an incredible job. [He is] in all probability the man who ought to be within the Purple Bull for those who have a look at how he’s carried out, however they appear to make some unusual driver decisions now and again,” he mentioned on Sky Sports activities.
Lawson, who changed Daniel Ricciardo at Racing Bulls for the ultimate six races of final season, crashed out in Melbourne to high off a forgettable first outing for Purple Bull – however he was defiant when requested about Brown’s remarks.
“I could not care much less what Zak says, to be trustworthy,” he mentioned forward of the Chinese language Grand Prix. “I have not spoken to him, I do not actually suppose ever. And I have not learn any social media for the final two weeks.
Liam Lawson, Purple Bull Racing
Photograph by: Purple Bull Content material Pool
“It is essential to have a very good weekend as a result of clearly that is what we’re right here to do. I do not suppose after one race we are able to go right into a spiral, however clearly all of us have excessive expectations anyway. Melbourne was beneath mine personally, clearly, so we’re simply trying to have a very good weekend.”
For Tsunoda, who felt he ought to have been the person to maneuver stables and drive alongside Verstappen this season, Brown’s feedback didn’t go unnoticed.
“I appreciated what Zak mentioned about me within the press, however it’s only one race and these items have been happening since final yr, first race,” he mentioned.
“’Oh, Daniel/Checo, you understand, myself/Checo, Liam/Checo’, simply this sort of a convention for our group.
“So, I imply, it is optimistic, clearly, however on the similar time, I simply need to hold what I am doing. Ultimately, they selected final yr, finish of the season, this line-up, and possibly they’ve clear plans sooner or later.
“I do not know, however in the long run, I am sporting this [Racing Bulls] t-shirt, I am simply sporting the brand. So long as I am sporting the brand I am sporting proper now, I am simply pushing for that for the workforce and maximising efficiency.
“I nonetheless imagine myself that there is much more room that I can enhance myself. So, I am simply targeted on that.”
Photographs from Chinese language GP – Thursday
Learn Additionally:
On this article
Mark Mann-Bryans
Method 1
Liam Lawson
Yuki Tsunoda
Purple Bull Racing
McLaren
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