Image goes viral after Liam Lawson’s truth bomb on Red Bull axing

Liam Lawson’s brutal axing from Red Bull has been summed up in one photo with the Kiwi driver breaking his silence on the decision.

Liam Lawson’s sad Red Bull fate has been perfectly summed up in one image.

The 23-year-old driver was demoted to the junior Racing Bulls team with Yuki Tsunoda being promoted to take his place.

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The driver swap will be under the brightest spotlight this weekend when the Formula 1 paddock takes over the Suzuka Circuit in Japan.

Ahead of the third race of the season, Red Bull took to the streets of Odaiba in Japan, putting on a show for fans.

While those in attendance soaked up seeing their hometown hero behind the wheel of his new car, one photo summed up Lawson’s feelings.

With both cars lined up alongside one another, all four drivers took a seat on the front wheels with Tsunoda and Isack Hadjar sitting next to each other.

As the two former teammates got all chummy with photos being taken, Lawson on the outer wheel looked as miserable as could be.

The image was posted to social media by Autosport with the awkward nature of the photo sending the Formula 1 world into a spin.

Lawson looking downcast as Hadjar and Tsunoda chatter away.

The image came after Lawson broke his silence on being demoted, stating he never saw the axe coming.

“It was definitely a shock, honestly. It’s not something that I saw coming,” Lawson said to Sky Sports.

“The discussions we were having weren’t really leaning in this direction, so it was definitely not something that I expected.

“Obviously, I would have loved more time.

“We had a rocky testing. We had a rocky first weekend in Melbourne with practice. And then obviously China was a sprint.

“I think going to places that I’d been before with the way the car is was quite tricky, I think that would have helped and I would have loved that opportunity.

“But obviously, it’s not my decision, so I’m here to make the most of this one.”

Lawson putting on his Racing Bulls suit. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images for Oracle Red Bull Racing)

Yuki has taken his seat. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images for Oracle Red Bull Racing)

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said the decision to drop Lawson back and promote Tsunoda came after a worrying development with the Kiwi driver.

Horner revealed the axe was swung after Red Bull engineers were “concerned” by Lawson’s mental state during the opening two race weekends.

“I think with everything that we saw in Australia and China, you could see that it was really affecting Liam quite badly,” Horner said.

“We could have left it, and I think that Liam is a driver with talent.

“Maybe within half a season he would have got there, but we just don’t have that amount of time.

“It was something that was very clear to the engineering side within the team, just how much Liam was struggling with it all, and you could see that weight upon his shoulders.

“The engineers were coming to me very concerned about it, and at the end of the day, I think it was the logical thing to do.”

Former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya told news.com.au Red Bull may have demoted Lawson with an eye to protecting him from doing irreversible damage to his career by struggling at Red Bull all season long.

Horner and the Red Bull engineers were concerned with Lawson’s struggles. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

Horner said the decision was “cruel” but believes the move will help Lawson in the long run and give him a shot at bouncing back.

“Of course, it’s horrible because you’re taking away someone’s dreams and aspirations, but sometimes you’ve got to be cruel to be kind, and I think that in this instance, this is not the end for Liam,” he said.

“We have to accept, I think we were asking too much of him too soon.

“And so this is for him to, again, nurture that talent that we know that he has, back in the Racing Bulls seat, whilst giving Yuki the opportunity and looking to make use of the experience that he has.”

Tsunoda will get a chance to prove his worth when the first practice session for the Japanese Grand Prix gets underway on Friday at 1:30pm (AEDT).

For Lawson it will be a chance to show he belongs on the grid when he gets back behind the wheel of the Racing Bulls car.

Originally published as Image goes viral after Liam Lawson’s truth bomb on Red Bull axing