Wellington’s got a soft spot for Liam Lawson. He’s our boy—born in Hastings, sure, but he’s raced go-karts round Porirua, cut his teeth in Kiwi motorsport, and carried that laid-back Welly grit to the world’s biggest tracks. So when he finally got the call-up to Red Bull Racing for the 2025 Formula 1 season, the city was buzzing. Pubs like Sprig and Fern had watch parties planned, and mates on Tinakori Road were ready to crack a cold one for his debut at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, March 15-16, 2025. But oh mate, it went pear-shaped—properly, brutally pear-shaped. At One Network Wellington Live, we’ve nabbed a cracking take from TikTok creator britt_paige, who summed it up with a laugh and a wince. Here’s the tale of WLG’s fave driver and the worst F1 start imaginable.

It was meant to be golden. Liam, 23, had grafted for this—years in Formula 2, stints with AlphaTauri, a Red Bull seat dangling like a carrot. When Max Verstappen’s shock retirement hit late 2024, Lawson was in—teamed with Yuki Tsunoda for Red Bull’s big reboot. Melbourne’s Albert Park was the stage—fast, twisty, a stone’s throw from Wellington across the ditch. Fans here reckoned he’d smash it—maybe not a podium, but a solid points finish to stick it to the doubters. Over at britt_paige’s TikTok, she’d posted a clip—credited here with a nod—showing Lawson’s Kiwi charm, captioned something like, “Our boy’s got this, eh?” Wellington was all in—texts flying round Newtown flats, “Liam’s gonna rip it!”

Friday practice was a warning shot. Lawson’s RB21—a sleek red beast—was twitchy. He lagged in P16, a second off Tsunoda. Sky Sports’ Martin Brundle clocked it—Red Bull’s got a history of dumping drivers who don’t deliver, he said. Wellington’s punters shrugged it off—first day nerves, mate, he’ll sort it. Saturday qualifying was worse. A last-minute rear wing tweak—blamed by pit lane guru Ted Kravitz—robbed him of downforce. He couldn’t hook it up, spinning at Turn 9, gravel spitting like a Thorndon storm. He started from the pit lane—dead last. Britt_paige’s next TikTok dropped, a mock cry: “Liam, what’s happening, bro?” Wellington’s WhatsApp groups lit up—“He’s stuffed already!”

Race day, Sunday, was a slow-motion car crash—literally. Lawson trundled out the pits, Melbourne’s sun blazing, 56 laps ahead. The plan? Claw back spots, show some Kiwi guts. But the car was a dog—no grip, no pace. He’d barely passed Turn 1 when the radio crackled—engineers muttering about balance. By lap 10, he’d scraped to P18, passing a Haas and a Sauber, but the field was pulling away. Wellington’s watch parties—Garratt Street flats, the Thistle Inn—went quiet. Britt_paige’s live TikTok feed, credited here, caught the mood: “He’s driving a shopping trolley, not an F1 car!” Locals winced—our boy was drowning out there.

Then it imploded. Lap 23, Turn 6—a fast left-hander. Lawson pushed too hard, tyres screaming, and bam—into the wall. Front wing gone, suspension knackered, gravel flying. Safety car out, red flags waved. He climbed out, helmet on, trudging back to the pits—Wellington’s dreams in the dirt with him. Red Bull boss Christian Horner tried to soften it—“Mitigating circumstances, tough weekend,” he said—but the stats were brutal: zero points, DNF, a debut from hell. Britt_paige’s next clip nailed it: “Liam Lawson’s F1 start—worst ever? Send help!” Wellington’s socials erupted—“Mate, what a shocker!”

Back home, the city felt it. Lawson’s a Welly hero—raced at Manfeild as a teen, trained in our gyms, probably scoffed fish and chips on Oriental Bay. At Xero’s office, coders swapped memes—“Liam’s car’s slower than the cable car!” In Newtown, curry houses like Planet Spice had his face on the telly, replaying the crash. The TikTok from britt_paige—cheers to her—kept the vibe light: “Kiwi legend, Melbourne nightmare—someone give him a hug!” But under the laughs, Wellington was gutted. Our boy, Red Bull’s new hope, had faceplanted on the world stage.

What went wrong? Plenty, reckon the boffins. Ted Kravitz on Sky pinned it on that rear wing swap—rushed before quali, it left Lawson sliding like he was on ice. Brundle warned Red Bull’s ruthless—drivers like Albon and Gasly got the chop for less. Horner admitted setup woes—new car, new driver, no time to gel. Lawson owned it too, post-race: “Pretty terrible weekend, eh. Couldn’t get a grip—literally.” Wellington’s punters dissected it at Moore Wilson’s—some blamed Red Bull’s engineers, others reckoned Liam pushed too hard, too soon. Britt_paige’s take? “Car’s a lemon, Liam’s a champ—sort it out, Red Bull!”

Melbourne’s a brutal track—tight, bumpy, no room for muck-ups. Lawson’s Kiwi grit—honed dodging wind on the Hutt Road—couldn’t save him. By lap 23, he was a dot to Lando Norris’s McLaren up front. Wellington’s watch parties thinned out—mates at Epic Hospitality’s bars like The Library switched to rugby. The crash replay looped on TVs—front left wheel buckling, Lawson’s head slumped. Britt_paige’s TikTok, credited here, summed it: “From Welly to wreckage—someone get our boy a beer!” The city nodded—he’d need more than a Speight’s to shake this off.

Red Bull’s a pressure cooker—Verstappen’s shadow looms large. Lawson’s got 22 races left—China’s next, April 6—but Melbourne’s a red flag. Brundle’s words stung: “Red Bull don’t mess about—if he doesn’t deliver, he’s out.” Wellington’s loyal—Liam’s our lad—but doubt crept in. At Gazley Motors, mechanics muttered, “Hope he’s got a Plan B.” Socials hummed—X posts called it a “bruising debut,” a “disaster.” Britt_paige kept the faith: “He’ll bounce back—Kiwi’s don’t quit!” But the Thistle Inn’s punters weren’t so sure—could he hack F1’s heat?

Monday, March 17, Wellington woke to grey skies and grim headlines. Lawson flew back—probably via Auckland, no direct Welly flight post-race. Britt_paige’s TikTok rolled on: “Liam Lawson, WLG’s pride—Melbourne’s just a bump, eh!” Credit to her—she kept it real, mixing laughs with love. At Wellington Chocolate Factory, baristas swapped tales—Liam’s crash was the talk, not the lattes. Kids at Thorndon School doodled his car—smashed, but still his. The city rallied—he’s ours, stuffed debut or not.

What’s next? China’s a shot at redemption—Shanghai’s track suits Red Bull’s pace. Lawson’s got to find his mojo—tweak the car, trust his gut, show that Kiwi mongrel. Wellington’s backing him—Sharesies punters chucked a few bucks on him for a top 10. At Lowe & Co, real estate agents reckoned he’d sell a Thorndon villa faster than he crashed—cheeky, but fond. Britt_paige’s latest, credited here, was pure Welly: “Liam’s down, not out—Melbourne’s muck, China’s his muck-in!” The city’s holding breath—he’s got to prove it.

Melbourne’s sting lingered. Lawson’s radio after the crash—“Sorry, lads, that’s on me”—echoed in Wellington’s ears. Red Bull’s Horner backed him—“He’ll learn, he’s tough”—but the clock’s ticking. Britt_paige’s TikTok kept spirits up: “From Welly’s hills to F1’s spills—Liam’s still our king!” Credit to her—she’s nailed the vibe. At PikPok, gamers mocked up a Lawson crash level—dark humour, Welly style. The city’s proud, but nervous—can our boy climb out of this hole?

Wellington’s quirks framed it. Wind that’d shove his car off Cuba Street couldn’t help him in Melbourne. Quake-prone flats—like those 575 shakers—mirrored his shaky start. Damp mornings in Kelburn matched the mood—grey, glum, a bit soggy. But Welly’s tough—Liam’s cut from that cloth. Britt_paige’s take, credited here, sang it: “Melbourne’s a write-off, but Liam’s our write-on!” Pubs like Sprig and Fern planned China watch parties—round two, mate, let’s go.

By Tuesday, March 18, the story softened. Lawson’s crash pics—shared on X—showed a crumpled RB21, but his grin peeked through. Wellington’s heart stayed with him—Kārearea Rum’s crew toasted “our racer.” At CentrePort, dockers reckoned he’d ship more grit next time. Britt_paige’s final TikTok, credited here, sealed it: “Liam Lawson, WLG’s own—Melbourne’s muck’s just fuel, eh!” The city nodded—he’s down, not done.

Melbourne was the worst start possible—pit lane, crash, zero points. Wellington felt every bump—our boy, our pride. Britt_paige—cheers to her—kept us laughing through it: “Liam’s F1 debut? A bloody shambles, but he’s ours!” Red Bull’s pressure’s on, but Welly’s faith holds. China’s his shot—April 6, Shanghai’s lights. At One Network Wellington Live, we’re backing him—Melbourne’s a bruise, not a break. Liam Lawson, WLG’s fave, crashed hard—but he’ll race harder. Watch this space, eh.