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Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Red Bull-demoted Liam Lawson doesn't sound hopeful of a move back up to its top F1 team
Red Bull-demoted Liam Lawson doesn't sound hopeful of a move back up to its top F1 team Team RB driver Liam Lawson of New Zealand, center, flanked by Alpine driver Pierre Gasly of France, left, and Mercedes driver George Russell of Britain, responds to a journalist's question during a news conference at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Thursday, April 3, 2025, ahead Sunday's Japanese Formula One Grand Prix race. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) Team RB drivers Liam Lawson of New Zealand, left, with Isack Hadjar of France, speaks in front of their crew's video near their garage at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Thursday, April 3, 2025, ahead Sunday's Japanese Formula One Grand Prix race. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) Team RB driver Liam Lawson of New Zealand responds to a journalist's question during a news conference at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Thursday, April 3, 2025, ahead Sunday's Japanese Formula One Grand Prix race. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) Team RB driver Liam Lawson of New Zealand responds to a journalist's question during a news conference at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Thursday, April 3, 2025, ahead Sunday's Japanese Formula One Grand Prix race. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) Team RB driver Liam Lawson of New Zealand, center, flanked by Alpine driver Pierre Gasly of France, left, and Mercedes driver George Russell of Britain, responds to a journalist's question during a news conference at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Thursday, April 3, 2025, ahead Sunday's Japanese Formula One Grand Prix race. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) Team RB drivers Liam Lawson of New Zealand, left, with Isack Hadjar of France, speaks in front of their crew's video near their garage at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Thursday, April 3, 2025, ahead Sunday's Japanese Formula One Grand Prix race. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) Team RB driver Liam Lawson of New Zealand responds to a journalist's question during a news conference at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Thursday, April 3, 2025, ahead Sunday's Japanese Formula One Grand Prix race. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) SUZUKA, Japan (AP) — No one knows better than Liam Lawson how quickly things can change in results-driven, money-driven Formula 1. Last week the New Zealander was suddenly demoted to Racing Bulls after two poor Formula 1 races with the top team — Red Bull — in Australia and China to start the season. Advertisement Lawson had qualified 18th at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix but crashed out of the race; in China he qualified last for both the sprint race and the main event, finishing 14th and 12th. Japanese Yuki Tsunoda, who was passed over for promotion a few months ago when Lawson was picked for the top team, is replacing Lawson in a driver swap. Lawson was asked at a media conference Thursday, ahead of Sunday's Japanese GP, if the thought he could get promoted back to the top team. 'Yeah, I guess that's part of the conversation,' he said. "In a way — that's great, but I was already there.' Advertisement His tone suggested another promotion didn't seem likely. And Tsunoda is also under pressure. He must perform and deliver as a teammate of four-time defending champion Max Verstappen. 'Whatever happens down the line is more or less out of my control," Lawson added. 'What I can control is the driving stuff — and to prove that. Where the future is at this point, I don't think about it too much.' Lawson attributes part of his failure in the first two races to unfamiliar circuits. He was hoping to show off at Suzuka, where he raced in Formula 1 in 2023. 'I was more surprised" about the sudden demotion, he said. 'It's very early in the season and I would say I was hoping to go to a track that I'd raced before and have a chance.' Advertisement Ironially, that advantage falls to Tsunoda, who's in his fifth season in Formula 1 and who knows the Suzuka track in central Japan as well as any driver. 'For Yuki, obviouly it's a great opportunity and on a track that he's done a lot," Lawson said. 'He'll — I'm sure — probably be more comfortable.' Interestingly, Formula 1 made both drivers available at Thursday press conferences, but not in the same one. Tsunoda appeared after Lawson spoke in the first 30-minute session. Lawson said he learned of his demotion last Monday or Tuesday, just after the Chinese GP. He said he took a call and was told what was happening. Advertisement 'It was more of a done deal,' he said. Lawson said he expected quick familiarity with the Racing Bulls team and setup. He had 11 F1 races under his belt coming into this season, and added two this season. 'I won't fully know until I drive,' Lawson said. 'I feel confident. I don't think too much has changed from last year.' ___ AP Formula 1:
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Automotive
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Formula 1: How to watch the Japanese Grand Prix on TV and what to know
Formula 1: How to watch the Japanese Grand Prix on TV and what to know Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain waves to his supporters after qualifying session for the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai, Saturday, March 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia, McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain and Mercedes driver George Russell of Britain celebrates on the podium after the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix race at the Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (AP Photo) McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia celebrates after winning the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix race at the Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (AP Photo) FILE - Red Bull driver Liam Lawson of New Zealand during the drivers portrait photo session ahead of the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, March 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake, File) Team RB driver Yuki Tsunoda of Japan at the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake) Team RB driver Yuki Tsunoda of Japan waits in his car during the third practice session at the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Barbour) Team RB driver Yuki Tsunoda of Japan waits in his car during the third practice session at the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Barbour) Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain waves to his supporters after qualifying session for the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai, Saturday, March 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia, McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain and Mercedes driver George Russell of Britain celebrates on the podium after the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix race at the Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (AP Photo) McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia celebrates after winning the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix race at the Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (AP Photo) FILE - Red Bull driver Liam Lawson of New Zealand during the drivers portrait photo session ahead of the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, March 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake, File) Team RB driver Yuki Tsunoda of Japan at the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake) Team RB driver Yuki Tsunoda of Japan waits in his car during the third practice session at the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Barbour) SUZUKA, Japan (AP) — Here's a guide that tells you what you need to know about the Japanese Grand Prix. It's the third round of the 2025 Formula 1 season. How to watch the Japanese Grand Prix on TV Advertisement — In the U.S., ESPN. — Other countries are listed here. What is the Japanese Grand Prix schedule? — Friday: First and second practice sessions. — Saturday: Third practice and qualifying. — Sunday: The Japanese Grand Prix. Where is the Japanese Grand Prix taking place? The Suzuka circuit first hosted F1 in 1987 and is a favorite with drivers and fans for its fast and technical layout. Owned by Honda, it's the only track on the F1 calendar in a figure-of-eight layout, using a bridge to cross over itself. The timing of the Japanese Grand Prix moved to the spring — cherry blossom season — last year, which means cooler weather and a chance of rain. Max Verstappen won the 2024 race at Suzuka in dominant style from then-teammate Sergio Perez. Advertisement What happened in the last race? Oscar Piastri won the Chinese Grand Prix from pole for McLaren, with teammate Lando Norris second and George Russell third for Mercedes. Lewis Hamilton won the sprint race in his first major success since joining Ferrari, but he and teammate Charles Leclerc were disqualified from the Grand Prix the following day. It was Liam Lawson's second and last race for Red Bull before the team dropped him last week in favor of Yuki Tsunoda, who will be at his home race in Japan. Norris leads Verstappen by eight points in the driver standings. What do I need to know about F1 and the Japanese Grand Prix? Get caught up: Advertisement — McLaren's Oscar Piastri wins Chinese GP from teammate Lando Norris. Both Ferraris disqualified — Ferrari vows to fix 'mistakes' that disqualified Hamilton: 5 takeaways from the Chinese Grand Prix — Red Bull drops Liam Lawson and replaces him with Yuki Tsunoda — Lando Norris: McLaren is ready for a title fight between its drivers — Lewis Hamilton's move to Ferrari is having a cultural impact far beyond Formula 1 Key stats at Suzuka 3 — McLaren has won three consecutive F1 races for the first time since 2012. A fourth win in a row would be the team's best run in 20 years. 28 — Piastri has scored at least one point in every one of the last 28 race weekends going back to Brazil in November 2023. Advertisement 17 — Ferrari has just 17 constructors' points after its double disqualification in China and is already 61 behind McLaren in the standings. Williams also has 17 but the team is much more satisfied after often racing at the back last year. What has been said since the last race? 'There was no intention to gain any advantage. We will learn from what happened today and make sure we don't make the same mistakes again.' — Ferrari responds to its double disqualification in China. 'We have a duty of care to protect and develop Liam and together we see that after such a difficult start, it makes sense to act quickly so Liam can gain experience.' — Red Bull team principal Christian Horner explains why Liam Lawson was dropped to its second team, Racing Bulls. ___ AP auto racing:
