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Lawson's Red Bull return carried career-ending risk, says Buxton
Broadcaster Will Buxton argues that any underperformance during Liam Lawson's Zandvoort substitution could have finished his Formula 1 career.
By Nadia van Leeuwen - 2026-08-30T13:59:03.000Z - 2 min read
Liam Lawson faced the most severe pressure test of his career when he was called upon to fill a vacant seat at Red Bull during the Dutch Grand Prix weekend. The opportunity arose after regular driver Isack Hadjar suffered a wrist injury during the championship's summer break, forcing him to the sidelines and opening the door for the Racing Bulls driver to step into the senior operation.
While stepping into a front-running car is typically viewed as an enviable career break, former Formula 1 television broadcaster Will Buxton has suggested the stakes were far more perilous for the New Zealander. According to Buxton, a poor showing during this unexpected comeback could have completely derailed Lawson's future in the motorsport world and ended his tenure in the championship altogether.
The harsh realities of the Red Bull driver development programme are well documented across the paddock, where internal replacements are frequently judged against unforgiving standards. Lawson found himself thrust directly into the spotlight at Zandvoort with virtually no preparation time in the senior machinery, tasked with matching expectations at an unforgiving coastal circuit.
Subbing into a team mid-season under injury circumstances leaves zero margin for error, particularly when the parent outfit holds multiple junior options on its books. A failure to deliver competitive lap times or cleanly execute the race weekend could easily have closed doors permanently for the young charger within the high-stakes Red Bull stable.
Instead, the emergency call-up provided an immediate platform for Lawson to demonstrate his adaptability under intense scrutiny. Navigating the pressures of a top-tier garage during a high-profile weekend required instant composure, shielding his career from the premature termination that Buxton believes loomed should the substitute appearance have gone awry.
The unexpected driver rotation also highlights the volatility faced by junior competitors within the wider Red Bull ecosystem, where a single summer-break accident can abruptly reshuffle the grid. With Hadjar sidelined by his wrist injury, the spotlight fell squarely onto Lawson to prove he belonged in the upper tier of the championship.
As the Formula 1 season resumes following the Zandvoort weekend, the focus returns to physical recovery and the ongoing battle for seats across the grid. Lawson's temporary graduation serves as a stark reminder of how rapidly fortunes can shift in a championship where every session carries heavy professional consequences.