Lawson “couldn’t care much less” what Brown says on Pink Bull choice

Liam Lawson insists he has little interest in what McLaren CEO Zak Brown has to say on Pink Bull’s selection of drivers for 2025.

Talking after qualifying for final weekend’s Australian Grand Prix, Brown praised Yuki Tsunoda after he put his Racing Bulls fifth on the grid, whereas Lawson struggled and will solely handle 18th in his first race for Pink Bull.

Tsunoda was missed in favour of Lawson by Pink Bull workforce principal Christian Horner, who opted to advertise the New Zealand rookie to companion reigning champion Max Verstappen after deciding to chop ties with Sergio Perez.

That left Tsunoda going through a fifth season within the Pink Bull junior workforce, one thing Brown – who has seemingly taken Toto Wolff’s place as Horner’s foremost antagonist – was eager to query.

“Yuki did a terrific job. [He is] most likely the man who must be within the Pink Bull when you take a look at how he’s carried out, however they appear to make some unusual driver selections every so often,” he stated on Sky Sports activities.

Lawson, who changed Daniel Ricciardo at Racing Bulls for the ultimate six races of final season, crashed out in Melbourne to prime off a forgettable first outing for Pink Bull – however he was defiant when requested about Brown’s remarks.

“I could not care much less what Zak says, to be sincere,” he stated forward of the Chinese language Grand Prix. “I have never spoken to him, I do not actually suppose ever. And I have never learn any social media for the final two weeks.

“It is essential to have an excellent weekend as a result of clearly that is what we’re right here to do. I do not suppose after one race we are able to go right into a spiral, however clearly all of us have excessive expectations anyway. Melbourne was beneath mine personally, clearly, so we’re simply trying to have an excellent weekend.”

For Tsunoda, who felt he ought to have been the person to maneuver stables and drive alongside Verstappen this season, Brown’s feedback didn’t go unnoticed.

“I appreciated what Zak stated about me within the press, but it surely’s only one race and these items have been occurring since final 12 months, first race,” he stated.

“’Oh, Daniel/Checo, , myself/Checo, Liam/Checo’, simply this type of a convention for our group.

“So, I imply, it is optimistic, clearly, however on the similar time, I simply need to preserve what I am doing. In the long run, they selected final 12 months, finish of the season, this line-up, and possibly they’ve clear plans sooner or later.

“I do not know, however ultimately, I am sporting this [Racing Bulls] t-shirt, I am simply sporting the brand. So long as I am sporting the brand I am sporting proper now, I am simply pushing for that for the workforce and maximising efficiency.

“I nonetheless consider myself that there is much more room that I can enhance myself. So, I am simply centered on that.”

Photographs from Chinese language GP – Thursday