The 2025 Formula 1 season has already seen its share of ruthless decisions, with the high-profile departures of Liam Lawson and Jack Doohan drawing comparisons to some of the most brutal dismissals in the sport’s history.
After just two races alongside Max Verstappen, Red Bull demoted New Zealand driver Liam Lawson, replacing him with Yuki Tsunoda. Lawson has since returned to Red Bull’s sister team, Visa Cash App Racing Bulls.
Meanwhile, Alpine made an equally shocking move following the Miami Grand Prix, removing Jack Doohan from their lineup in favor of rookie Franco Colapinto. Unlike Lawson, Doohan won’t be returning to the grid anytime soon and will instead serve as Alpine’s reserve driver.
These decisions have reignited discussions about some of the coldest and most abrupt exits F1 has ever seen. Here are four of the most unforgettable examples:
Sébastien Bourdais – Toro Rosso (2008)
Red Bull’s reputation for ruthless management was evident in 2008 when Sébastien Bourdais was dropped by Toro Rosso mid-season and replaced by rookie Jaime Alguersuari.
In a surprising twist, Bourdais claimed he learned of his dismissal via text message from team boss Franz Tost.
“The way they got rid of me was very disappointing. He didn’t speak to me. He didn’t call me. Everything was done via text message, which, to me, was out of style,” Bourdais later said.
Tost, however, denied the claim, insisting he informed Bourdais in person.
Kevin Magnussen – McLaren (2015)
Kevin Magnussen’s dismissal from McLaren remains one of the coldest in recent memory—not just for its timing, but for how it was delivered.
After finishing 11th in the 2014 season, the Dane was replaced by Fernando Alonso. According to reports, Magnussen found out on his birthday, and not even directly.
“It was a short paragraph explaining that there would be nothing for me in the future. In fact, it arrived on my birthday,” Magnussen recalled.
Reports indicate McLaren boss Ron Dennis had his assistant break the news.
Nelson Piquet Jr – Renault (2009)
One of F1’s darkest scandals surrounded Nelson Piquet Jr’s exit from Renault. After a poor run with no points in the first half of the 2009 season, Piquet was dismissed—but the controversy didn’t end there.
He later alleged that team officials, including Flavio Briatore, had instructed him to crash deliberately during the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix to help teammate Fernando Alonso win.
Following an FIA investigation, Piquet’s claims were proven true. Renault received a two-year suspended ban from the sport, and the incident remains one of the most disgraceful episodes in F1 history.
Jolyon Palmer – Renault (2017)
In another communication breakdown, British driver Jolyon Palmer was blindsided by news of his replacement.
Without any formal notice, Palmer discovered from a Autosport article that Carlos Sainz would be taking his seat at Renault.
“I knew it when I read it in Autosport. And then I knew it was true; I spoke to a few people. That was it,” Palmer admitted.
As F1 continues to evolve, the pressure to perform remains relentless—and the stories of Lawson and Doohan are just the latest reminders of how quickly fortunes can change. For better or worse, the sport’s history is filled with abrupt endings and shocking exits that remind fans just how cutthroat Formula 1 can be.
