Lawson’s two races in his first full season at Red Bull will go down as one of the shortest ever driver stints for an F1 team.
While Lawson at least gets to stay on the grid, Japanese driver Yuji Ide had no such luck in 2006. The 31-year-old was dumped by Super Aguri after just four grands prix – and had his FIA super licence revoked – after struggling to adapt during his rookie season.
Dutchman Nyck de Vries impressed enough during a stand-in drive for Williams in 2022 to claim a full seat with the Red Bull’s second team, then called Alpha Tauri, a year later.
But his F1 career ended only 10 races in to the 2023 campaign when he was replaced mid-season by Ricciardo.
Indian driver Karun Chandhok managed one race more than De Vries in 2010, when he lost his place at the HRT team to Japan’s Sakon Yamamoto after just 11 grands prix.
There were some memorable substitute appearances, including Markus Winkelhock’s one-race deal – and retirement – with Spyker in 2007.
Andre Lotterer famously called it a day after two laps for Caterham in 2014, while Luca Badoer’s double cameo for Ferrari in 2009 – when the Italian finished at the back of the field on both occasions – caused much dismay for Scuderia fans.