Liam Lawson, the 22-year-old New Zealander and Red Bull Racing’s reserve driver, openly admits that taking over a race seat at RB – Red Bull’s second F1 team – mid-season would be far from ideal. His candid reflection comes amidst speculation over Daniel Ricciardo’s future with the team, following Lawson’s own impressive performance when he stepped in for the injured Ricciardo.
Lawson recently made headlines by suggesting that Ricciardo needs to “step it up” or face the possibility of losing his race seat. This advice, delivered over the weekend in Adelaide, underscores the competitive tension within the camp.
Dr. Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s top F1 consultant, has already laid out plans for Lawson, promising him a full-time race seat by 2025, potentially even sooner. Marko, at the age of 80, emphasizes the importance of Lawson getting more race experience soon, “Yes, and before that (2025) he should at least drive a few more races so that we can see where his potential really lies.”
However, Lawson himself expresses reservations about a mid-season entry, highlighting the psychological and competitive disadvantages. “The thing is, you’re not at your optimal self-confidence when you get into a car halfway through the season,” he explains, pointing out that any mid-season newcomer would inherently lag behind a teammate who’s been racing from the season’s start. “Ultimately, in most cases, your teammate has already had half a season, so you’ve actually already fallen behind them.”
The challenge, according to Lawson, would escalate significantly if he were to replace Sergio Perez alongside Max Verstappen. He acknowledges the daunting task of matching Verstappen’s performance, “If I was to get in next to Max Verstappen, it would be extremely difficult in any case, I already know that.” Nevertheless, Lawson remains undaunted, willing to embrace the challenge under any circumstances, “If I joined at the start of the season I might have a little more confidence than halfway through, because then it’s just about the pressure on my shoulders. But I would grab the opportunity with both hands anyway.”
GMM
