Liam Lawson admits the pressure to prove his worth in six races at the end of 2024 has forced him to give it his all. Driving for Racing Bulls at the end of the season, he notably had tense exchanges with Fernando Alonso and Sergio Pérez, but assures that he just wanted to try to do the best.
“I came in a unique position. I knew I was going to do five or six races, and that's where I proved that I deserved a place in F1. Whether it was Racing Bulls or Red Bull, That's all I could do.” Lawson said.
“These guys have been racing for a long time, especially Fernando. So I went out there and made the most of every lap I did in the car. I didn't intend to upset, but obviously I raced with him like I race with people, and that's what happened, I just tried to make the most of it.”
“Maybe knowing that added pressure, knowing what was on the line, may have triggered some of my more difficult moments. But obviously, I'm still working through learn and learn from those moments.”
Despite the fact that his battles have been criticized, he doesn't feel like he's overdone it: “Honestly, I don't think I've changed at all. Maybe I wasn't on TV enough before or something, but basically that's how I've always raced.”
“The path to F1 often feels unfair, and I've always had to make the most of every opportunity that presents itself. Today I was very lucky with the timing, so I went out there and I ran exactly like I feel like I always have.”
The New Zealander, however, remains cautious about his objectives during his first season: “I have to be realistic. You have to be realistic. I know that I'm coming to a bunch of circuits that I've never been to and that it's my first full season.”
“So I don't expect to fight with them to win races straight away. But I obviously expect to perform well and do the job that the team expects of me. I'm obviously not here to lose no I'm only here for one reason.”
If Lawson is not worried about the pressure he will be under, it is because he was put under pressure from his debut in the academy: “I think the environment at Red Bull over the last six years has always been about putting pressure on me. That's how it started when I was 16 and they signed me. “
“Every two weeks, Helmut [Marko] called me to tell me 'do your job, otherwise you will be fired'. That kind of moment, obviously, as a young driver, puts a lot of pressure on you and it builds you, really, for F1. So I feel like I was developed for this opportunity.”
