One of the twenty drivers on the F1 field arrives in Austin already knowing he is condemned to starting from the back of the grid…
New Zealand driver Liam Lawson, 22, makes his return to Formula 1 this weekend for the United States Grand Prix, but he will have to approach qualifying with less pressure.
Due to an engine penalty, he will automatically start from the back of the grid during the main race scheduled for this Sunday in Austin.
Penalties inherited from Daniel Ricciardo
Lawson, who replaces Daniel Ricciardo for the last six races of the season in the RB team alongside Yuki Tsunoda, will not have it easy. Indeed, in addition to getting back behind the wheel after a prolonged absence, he will inherit the penalties not yet served by Ricciardo.
The latter had reached the maximum number of engine components authorized for the season, notably at the end of the Singapore Grand Prix. Therefore, it is Lawson who must now suffer the consequences.
This situation, although not ideal for the young driver, offers him a unique opportunity to demonstrate his potential without worrying about an immediate result in qualifying. Lawson can thus concentrate on his adaptation and his performance in the race, where he can try to climb back into the peloton.
Christian Horner: “A smooth return” for Lawson
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner spoke about Lawson’s return to the team in a particular context.
“It will be a smooth returnhe declared with a touch of irony during the podcast F1 Nation. That said, it will be fascinating to see how he performs against Yuki Tsunoda over the final six races of the season.”
The previous year, Lawson had already had the opportunity to replace Ricciardo at five Grands Prix after the Australian was injured.
“He was very fast at the time” added Horner, before recognizing that “Yuki has taken a big step forward this season”. This internal duel between the two RB drivers could therefore offer interesting elements for the future.
Measured expectations, but a golden opportunity
Despite this engine penalty, Liam Lawson benefits from valuable comparative data. Horner pointed out that the team has a significant amount of data on Ricciardo’s performance compared to Tsunoda.
“We have a clear idea of where Daniel stood in relation to Yuki, and it will be exciting to see how quickly Liam can readjust to the competition.” he clarified.
For Lawson, this six-race period represents a crucial opportunity. If he can surpass Tsunoda and impress the team, it could well influence his future with Red Bull.
