Former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya has suggested that Liam Lawson’s future with Red Bull may be on shaky ground yet again, with the team potentially looking to replace him mid-season with rising star Arvid Lindblad. Montoya’s comments come amid Lawson’s ongoing struggles since being demoted from the Red Bull senior team.
Lawson began the 2025 F1 season as Max Verstappen’s teammate at Red Bull Racing. However, after underwhelming performances in the opening two races, he was quickly replaced by Yuki Tsunoda. The sudden switch dealt a heavy psychological blow to the Kiwi driver, who was then reassigned to the sister team, Racing Bulls, alongside rookie Isack Hadjar.
While Lawson has shown flashes of speed at Racing Bulls, Hadjar has largely outperformed him so far. With both drivers on one-year contracts and 17-year-old Lindblad making headlines in Formula 2, speculation is mounting that Red Bull might fast-track the young Brit into an F1 seat before the season ends.
Speaking to AS, Montoya didn’t hold back in his assessment:
“If Liam doesn’t improve any further, I wouldn’t be surprised if they put Lindblad in at some point. Not at all. Honestly, Liam was given the green light last year and showed he had what it takes. They gave him the Red Bull seat, and he earned it.”
Montoya also noted the mental impact Lawson has suffered:
“The Red Bull situation hit him hard, and he probably needs a lot of psychological support to recover. If he doesn’t bounce back soon, Red Bull will start looking elsewhere. That’s just how they operate.”
Arvid Lindblad: Red Bull’s Next Rising Star?
All eyes are now on Arvid Lindblad, a standout talent in Formula 2 and the youngest race winner in the category. At just 17, Lindblad is already drawing praise from Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko, who earlier this year told the Inside Line Podcast:
“We’re not looking for another Max [Verstappen], but a future champion—and Arvid looks really promising. Compared to drivers like Doohan, Piastri, or Bearman, he hasn’t had as much testing, and we plan to change that. If he delivers a strong F2 season, we’ll make sure he’s well-prepared for F1 in 2026. Maybe even earlier.”
Marko also pointed out that unlike Lawson and Hadjar, Lindblad will benefit from more extensive test opportunities to ease his eventual transition to Formula 1.
What’s Next for Lawson?
For Lawson, the path forward is clear: perform or face replacement. Though once viewed as a long-term prospect, the Kiwi now finds himself needing to prove his worth against stiff competition both within and outside the team. As Lindblad’s star rises, the pressure on Lawson to rediscover his form intensifies with each passing race.
Whether Red Bull opts to pull the trigger mid-season remains to be seen—but if Montoya’s prediction is right, the F1 paddock could see a dramatic driver change before the year’s end.