The Liam Lawson red flag that has possibly led to Red Bull-Franco Colapinto talks

Liam Lawson's return as an F1 driver for Red Bull's sister team has been very interesting, and it has stirred the pot in a manner that many would not have expected. In just two weeks of running, Lawson has angered Fernando Alonso, Sergio Perez, and Franco Colapinto. He's also had a rebuke from Red Bull boss Christian Horner for the manner in which his wheel-to-wheel battle with Sergio Perez panned out.

The young New Zealander is rated very highly for the performances he's shown in his limited appearances on track. He has produced results in the RB as well, which was just his first weekend back.

There's something in there that RBR can harness and put to great use. With Sergio Perez proving to be a bigger liability by the day, Lawson's performances are under the spotlight, and he could get the seat if he shows he's worthy of that promotion.

This is the reason why he's in that car right now, why Red Bull replaced Daniel Ricciardo with him. But while that is well and good, and the performance might be up there as well, the first two weekends have shown a red flag that Red Bull might not be willing to deal with.

Could this prove to be a major roadblock in Lawson getting the promotion? And is it the reason why the team is talking to Franco Colapinto?

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What is the profile of the driver Red Bull is looking for?

It is important to understand that the driver - Liam Lawson in this case - needs to fit the criteria of being a Red Bull No. 2. What Christian Horner and Helmut Marko are looking for is an able deputy for Max Verstappen who, if needed, can play the team game.

In essence, what the team wants is an upgrade on Sergio Perez in terms of the performance they can deliver. At the same time, the driver should know his role within the team. He's not expected to beat Max Verstappen, but he should not be a second off the Dutch driver's lap times either.

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Does Liam Lawson fit the description?

Before what happened in the last two races, Liam Lawson was the perfect candidate. In the limited opportunities that the Kiwi has been given, he's done a brilliant job when it comes to performing on track. The driver has been impressive and has shown that he can get up to pace pretty quickly.

This was clear in his very first weekend back in the sport, when he secured the first points for RB in a while. If he continues to keep this level of on-track performances, Liam certainly fits the criteria that Red Bull is looking at for replacing Sergio Perez.

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The outbursts, however, might give Red Bull second thoughts

Now comes the second bit, which is the temperament. Does Lawson have the temperament to be a Red Bull driver? What he has shown in the last two races has been a bit worrying.

On one hand, it is nice to see a driver being feisty against even an established figure like Fernando Alonso. But making enemies with multiple drivers on the grid who are not happy with his conduct on track, is a completely different story.

Lawson has angered Sergio Perez, who said that the Kiwi needed to be a bit more humble. He's angered Franco Colapinto through the incident he had with him, and he's also angered Carlos Sainz by not obeying the blue flag rules.

Red Bull had a scenario with Pierre Gasly; they hired a driver who was not as fast as Max Verstappen, which led to things getting a little out of hand. To add to this, it has also become clear that one of the reasons why Yuki Tsunoda has not been promoted is his temperament.

Given how Lawson has come off as a bit of a loose cannon in these situations, the Austrian team might ask themselves whether it makes sense to have someone like him. Could that be the reason behind reports of Horner pursuing Franco Colapinto from Williams?

Liam Lawson certainly appears to be a bright prospect. But if he continues to show a temperamentally volatile side on the track, that could make Christian Horner and Helmut Marko think long and hard about whether he is the right option for the team.