Liam Lawson, the young Kiwi set to make a splash at Red Bull in 2025, recently shared a humorous story about his time in the DTM alongside Alex Albon. Lawson recalled how his incessant curiosity about Formula 1 and Red Bull could have pushed Albon to the limit of frustration.
In 2021, Lawson and Albon were teammates in Ferrari GT3 cars competing in the DTM. At the time, Albon had just left his Formula 1 role at Red Bull after a difficult period alongside Max Verstappen. For Lawson, who was still climbing the motorsport ranks, the opportunity to extract information from someone with experience at Red Bull and F1 was too good to pass up.
Lawson: “I probably made him crazy”
Lawson admitted to pestering Albon with an endless stream of questions about Formula 1, Red Bull and the intricacies of racing at the highest level.
“When we were in DTM, he probably got tired of me asking him all these questions, but I asked him a lot about Red Bull and what it was like on the team and what the car was like,” Lawson shared in laughing at this memory.
Albon, who had first-hand experience driving the fastest car on the grid, became an invaluable resource to Lawson during their DTM days. But the 22-year-old now realizes he may have exaggerated.
The roles have changed
Fast forward to 2025, and Lawson has earned his place at Red Bull, replacing Sergio Perez for a full season. Although Lawson has already shown flashes of brilliance during his role as Daniel Ricciardo's backup in 2023, he knows he still has a lot to learn.
Interestingly, Lawson joked that he might contact Albon again, this time for advice on handling the challenges of being Verstappen's teammate and navigating the high-stakes world of Red Bull Racing.
“I think he'll be someone I contact again now, knowing that. Obviously this is all very, very new. I will definitely call Alex in the next few weeks and try to get more info! » joked Lawson.
Big shoes to fill
Lawson's first full season at Red Bull comes with immense pressure. The team is facing significant changes to its engineering staff, and Verstappen's unprecedented dominance sets a formidable standard for any teammate. Lawson's performance will be closely scrutinized, not only by fans but also by team executives like Christian Horner and Helmut Marko, who took a calculated risk in promoting him over other candidates.
The 2025 season will test Lawson's resilience and adaptability as he steps into one of the toughest seats in motorsport. However, with his curious nature and willingness to learn, Lawson is well equipped to seize this opportunity.
From Curious Rookie to Red Bull Competitor
Lawson's anecdote highlights his progression from an enthusiastic rookie asking questions of Albon to a rising star about to begin his first full Formula 1 season with Red Bull. As the 2025 season approaches, fans and pundits will be watching closely to see if Lawson's blend of talent, determination and curiosity can help him thrive under the immense spotlight of Formula 1.
