Liam Lawson says the relentless expectations he faced as a Red Bull junior became an asset when he reached Formula 1. The New Zealander joined the programme in early 2019, spent multiple seasons as a development driver through the junior ranks, and learned first-hand how unforgiving the system can be when results don’t arrive immediately.

The Red Bull junior pipeline — overseen by Helmut Marko — is famous for its high standards and rapid reshuffles. Lawson describes living under that microscope as a formative experience that now helps him shoulder the scrutiny of the top tier.

“Under the gun” — and better for it

“It's something I'm very thankful for, to have been lucky enough to join so young [and] be exposed to that pressure and that environment from a young age,” Lawson told F1.com. “It's something that maybe other teams and other drivers don't get.”

At the time, the pressure could be uncomfortable. But looking back from the F1 paddock, Lawson calls it a silver lining:

“As much as at the time it was something I didn't like, I came into F1 and realised that it was probably a silver lining that I appreciated a lot more once I was in it.”

Promotion, setback and perspective

Lawson earned a promotion to Red Bull at the start of the year but was moved back to Racing Bulls after a challenging opening pair of races. The shuffle underscores how scarce and precarious F1 seats are — a reality Lawson acknowledges even as he continues to fight for his long-term place.

“Obviously, I'm still under the gun, I'm still under pressure, and that won't change,” he said. “When you're in it, it's always tough, but I think it's how it'll always be. It's how the sport is, it's high-performance. There are so many great drivers and 20 seats at the moment. So it's always going to be like that.”

The takeaway

For Lawson, the very intensity that makes Red Bull’s ladder system daunting has also toughened his approach. In a field where opportunities are fleeting, the ability to manage stress and extract performance under scrutiny may be the difference between staying on the grid and watching from the sidelines.