PARIS, France – New Zealander Liam Lawson will replace Australian Daniel Ricciardo from the next Formula 1 Grand Prix until the end of the season, who is paying for his lack of results at Racing Bulls, the team announced on Thursday -sister of Red Bull.
Lawson, 22, “will drive alongside Yuki Tsunoda starting at the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas” on the weekend of October 20, the Faenza (Italy) team said in a statement.
Reserve driver for Red Bull and Racing Bulls since 2022, the young New Zealander made his debut in the elite during the Dutch GP in 2023, to replace Ricciardo for five races, injured in his hand.
Despite his good performances, including a 9th place synonymous with points in Singapore, Lawson remained confined this season to the role of reserve driver in the Red Bull fold.
“Liam already knows the team well, he drove for us last season and did well in difficult circumstances,” praised the French boss of Racing Bulls, Laurent Mekies, on Thursday.
Lawson therefore takes the seat of the very popular Ricciardo, who made his return to the paddock in July 2023 to replace the Dutchman Nyck de Vries, also sidelined for lack of results at the time.
Former driver at Toro Rosso (now AlphaTauri then Racing Bulls) in 2012 and 2013, and at Red Bull between 2014 and 2018, the 35-year-old Australian won eight F1 GPs. Besides Red Bull and Toro Rosso, he also raced for HRT in 2011, for his first year in F1, Renault (2019-2020) and McLaren (2021-2022).
“I have loved this sport all my life”, reacted the person concerned in a message posted on social networks.
“It’s a wild and wonderful sport, a real journey. To the teams and individuals who played their part, thank you, to the supporters who sometimes love this sport more than me, thank you. There will always be ups and downs, but we had a great time and, honestly, I wouldn’t change a thing. Until the next adventure,” he also wrote.
After 18 GPs out of 24 this season, the Australian is in 14th place in the championship behind his Japanese teammate Tsunoda, 12th. Racings Bull is currently 6th in the constructors’ standings, with 34 points, including 12 collected by Ricciardo.
Related News :