Following the dismissal of Daniel Ricciardo, the Racing Bulls team has promoted Red Bull reserve driver Liam Lawson. But who is the young New Zealand driver? We invite you to discover more about the new driver on the grid!
The 2024 grid evolved this Thursday! After Logan Sargeant’s ouster from Williams, Daniel Ricciardo became the second driver to be ejected from his seat during the season. Like the British with Colapinto, the Austrian team decided to hand over the car to a rookie driver, or almost.
Lawson – Ricciardo, history repeats itself
Indeed, Liam Lawson has already participated in five Grands Prix in his young career. The 22-year-old driver has been Red Bull’s reserve driver since the start of 2023. Thus, beyond performing laps of the track in free practice, he can be called to the rescue at any time if a regular driver is unavailable. Which was the case in 2023, when Daniel Ricciardo was injured on Friday in the Netherlands.
Two days later, Lawson competed in his first Grand Prix. During the Australian’s absence, he took part in five races, even standing out in Singapore by taking 9th place. He then logically handed over his seat to Ricciardo once the latter got back on his feet, having shown great maturity and rapid adaptation.
Liam Lawson, immersed in motorsport from a very young age
Born in Hastings, located in the north of New Zealand, Liam Lawson has always been in love with motorsport. His father, Jared, germinated his own passion in him, before supporting him year after year in his development, morally and financially. Registered for karting at the age of 7, he never let go of the wheel, beginning a rapid climb to the top.
In New Zealand, then in Asia, then around the world, the boy will swallow the levels with relish. A true enthusiast, he will multiply his experiences in different championships. For his first full season in F3, in 2019, he will take part in three different events simultaneously (F3, Euroformula Open, Toyota Racing Series), competing in a total of 46 races!
Promoted to F2 in 2021, he will achieve his first success with Hitech, before shining in 2022 under the British flag, with Carlin. He won four victories, and a good 3rd place in the general classification. Performances which then opened the doors to F1 as a third driver.
The tenth New Zealand driver in F1 history
In more than 70 years of history, Formula 1 has seen nearly 800 drivers from diverse and varied countries. Among them, ten New Zealand drivers have already started a Grand Prix, including Liam Lawson. However, we have to go back to the 1970s to find most of these pilots. Only the forgettable, Brendon Hartley, author of 25 anecdotal GPs with Toro Rosso in 2017 and 2018, had put an end to this drought, before Lawson arrived.
Also read – F1 prize list: Who has the most world champion titles?
The young driver therefore carries the hopes of an entire nation, which has been waiting for a victory for 51 years, and the success of Denny Hulme in Sweden. However, we will have to be patient since Racing Bulls has announced its promotion only until the end of the season, for the six remaining races. It’s up to him to consolidate his seat for 2025.
An avid follower of sport in the broad sense, I have shared my passion for around ten years regardless of the terrain! Basketball, ice hockey, cycling, shooting, fencing, I consume everything that presents itself with relish.
