Liam Lawson, the fresh faced up-and-coming New Zealander, has boldly indicated that Daniel Ricciardo’s position in Red Bull’s junior team could be in jeopardy unless his performance improves. With the Formula 1 circus moving to Melbourne for the upcoming weekend race, there’s a palpable sense of pessimism among local fans and pundits regarding Ricciardo’s prospects for success.
Alan Jones, the 1980 Formula 1 world champion, expressed his skepticism to the Herald Sun, saying, “I hate to say it, but I think we have seen the best days (of Ricciardo). Jones critiqued Ricciardo’s inability to consistently outperform his teammate, stating, “He has had his bum in a few decent cars, irrespective of what people say. At the end of the day he has got to start beating his teammate for a start,” and highlighted a tendency to blame the vehicle, “At the end of the day, we can’t be blaming the car all the time, which has been a bit of a tendency in the past,” aligning with the view that Ricciardo must enhance his performances.
Liam Lawson, who stands ready to seize his moment after impressing during a temporary seat fill last year due to Ricciardo’s injury, is seen by many as a rightful contender for a more permanent role. David Dicker, head of Lawson’s sponsor Rodin Cars, firmly believes Lawson deserves a spot in Formula 1, stating, “He should be in F1 this year.”
Despite Dr. Helmut Marko’s inclination to promote Lawson from the reserve seat, Christian Horner’s efforts have been towards reviving Ricciardo’s dwindling Formula 1 career. Nonetheless, Marko has not dismissed the possibility of Lawson making appearances on the grid within the current year.
Speaking at the Adelaide Motorsport Festival, Lawson conveyed his belief in Ricciardo’s awareness of the need for improvement, “I think Daniel knows that the potential is there, but I’m sure he’s probably expected to step it up.” When probed by Fox Sports about his readiness to surpass Ricciardo, Lawson confidently affirmed, “Absolutely.”
Lawson commented on the challenges of breaking into Formula 1, especially in a year devoid of full-time rookies, “Obviously this year it’s the first in a while where everything is exactly the same,” acknowledging the intense competition for seats, “It makes it very tough to get a seat when there’s multiple guys. I feel like I’m ready but there’s a lot of other guys there also,” yet reiterating his ambition, “Ultimately my goal is to get back in that seat as soon as possible.”
He described Red Bull’s environment as unforgiving, “Red Bull is pretty cut-throat,” and hinted at a willingness to explore opportunities outside the team if necessary, “I would love to drive for them, but ultimately I want to be in F1 regardless.”
-GMM
