Swapping Perez for Lawson remains the 'correct decision.'

      There is uncertainty surrounding whether Red Bull has made the right decision regarding its driver selection for 2025. After finishing second in the constructors' championship last year due to Sergio Perez's consistent underperformance compared to Max Verstappen, the team considered Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson before choosing Lawson. Despite Tsunoda being closer to Verstappen's speed in Melbourne while driving a junior Racing Bulls car, McLaren CEO Zak Brown expressed confusion at their decision. "They seem to make some odd driver choices," he remarked.

      At just 23, Lawson is still at the beginning of his Formula 1 journey, having never raced at Albert Park or Shanghai before this weekend. He was among several younger drivers who crashed in Melbourne. Team principal Christian Horner acknowledged the challenges ahead, saying, "Next weekend won’t be any easier, as it’s a sprint race on an unfamiliar track. But he’s resilient. Melbourne wasn’t a true reflection of his capabilities."

      Nonetheless, many agree that Perez would likely have outperformed Lawson in Australia. Dutch commentator Olav Mol commented, "I think he’ll be pondering over this. I haven't seen him get close to Verstappen's pace. When you're that far behind and still crash..."

      In response to Brown's suggestion that Tsunoda would have been a preferable choice, Mol had a different perspective, stating, "I believe they should have brought Carlos Sainz back. He was the only one capable of challenging Max at Toro Rosso. However, the situation between them became too complicated. Franz Tost struggled to manage the dynamics between those two and their fathers."

      Horner, however, believes writing Lawson off too early is a mistake. "He achieved the second-fastest laptime on dry tyres," he noted. "That’s a positive aspect. The issue is that if you fail to reach Q3, you’re already at a disadvantage."

      Former F1 driver Christijan Albers concurs with Horner, asserting that Lawson requires more time. "They’re already saving money compared to what Sergio Perez was earning," he remarked to De Telegraaf. "I still support Red Bull's decision. They understood their situation with Perez, with little left to gain. There was no improvement, and he was also getting older. The drive and competitive spirit tend to wane with age. In that regard, they made the right choice."

      However, for Lawson, the pressure will be substantial this weekend in China. Journalist Gaetan Vigneron expressed to the Belgian broadcaster RTBF, "It’s tough being Max Verstappen’s teammate, especially in this challenging Red Bull. It’s manageable for Max, but he’s exceptional. Lawson needs to pull himself together swiftly."