Hamilton criticizes Red Bull's treatment of Liam Lawson

Red Bull Racing/Red Bull Content Pool

SUZUKA, Japan - Lewis Hamilton has voiced concerns over the handling of young drivers in Formula 1, in light of Red Bull's decision to replace Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda after just two races. The switch came prior to the Japanese Grand Prix, where Tsunoda made his Red Bull debut at his home race, while Lawson returned to Racing Bulls.

Hamilton remarked on Red Bull's quick decision-making. "I'm not surprised to see them move that early, no," he said. "They're both great drivers. There’s a lot of pressure on youngsters. Getting in two races was pretty tough."

Red Bull is known for its stringent driver policies. In 2019, Pierre Gasly was replaced by Alex Albon mid-season, only for Albon to be dropped by the end of 2021. Both drivers have since secured positions with other teams.

Alex Albon commented, "I think it's not a career-ender for Liam at all. He's still young and inexperienced. I know how quick he is. I think he'll bounce back."

Another rookie, Jack Doohan, empathized with Lawson's situation, detailing how his own place at Alpine has been under constant speculation since Franco Colapinto was signed as a reserve driver. "It's a cut-throat sport," Doohan said. "He was in a very tricky situation. We know how tough that Red Bull is to drive."

Haas' Esteban Ocon, who experienced a difficult departure from Alpine, emphasized the need for team support. "The pressure he must have been going through and not having much support from what I've seen from the outside of his team is a difficult task," said Ocon. "He's still in Formula 1, and he's in a very competitive car. So we should not be too sad for him because he's going to be fighting in decent spots in Formula 1 again."

The abrupt changes reflect the intense pressure and fierce competition in F1, especially for young and upcoming drivers.

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