This is an opportunity that he must seize at all costs. Liam Lawson, reserve driver for Red Bull, has just been promoted to Racing Bulls in place of Daniel Ricciardo, ousted after the Singapore Grand Prix which he finished in a distant eighteenth place. The New Zealander will therefore have the opportunity to prove his worth during the last six Grand Prix, which could ultimately prove decisive for the rest of his career. If he performs well against his teammate Tsunoda and Pérez continues his poor form, Liam Lawson could become Max Verstappen’s future teammate. A prospect that he nevertheless considers improbable.
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Lawson prioritizes his job at Racing Bulls first
“I think it’s really far away, honestly”he said during the FIA press conference yesterday at the Circuit of the Americas. “The goal that was set is the same as it has been since I was 17 and joined the program. » Despite the desire of certain representatives of the Austrian brand to favor a young driver alongside Max Verstappen, like Helmut Marko, the former Formula 2 driver focuses above all on his own performances and not on those of the Mexican. He notably indicated his desire to compete with his Japanese teammate.
“Obviously, Yuki has done a very good job over the last few years, and especially this year. He is the reference point to compare myself to. He’s the only one with the same car as me, so I’ll be directly compared to him. I guess the goal or expectation from them is to be alongside him on the grid and in the race. At least. Competing with Yuki is the goal that has been set. »
The Kiwi will therefore have the opportunity to fight Yuki Tsunoda for the second time after replacing Daniel Ricciardo for five rounds last year. That season, he had done more than compete with the Japanese since he had scored two more points than him during their collaboration. However, Lawson is not yet considering his future, preferring to focus on his performances with Racing Bulls on the track and not think about 2025. “I guess the goal or expectation on their part is for me to fight alongside him. So as far as my situation for next year or the future, I have absolutely no idea. But that’s the goal that was set. »
The New Zealander hopes to be able to help the Faenza team garner as many points as possible in their duel against Haas for sixth place in the constructors’ standings, with the American team only three points ahead. “I’m fighting for the team’s 6th place in the championship. Basically, trying to get into the points as quickly as possible for me is my goal. »
A driver well prepared to return to Formula 1
Furthermore, he revealed that the tests organized this season by Pirelli were very useful for him to readjust to driving a Formula 1 car, having not raced since the Super Formula championship last year, which he had finished second behind current Formula 2 driver Ritomo Miyata. “It was helpful for my neck, honestly”he said. “We mainly did long stints. It was good to do them, although I would have preferred to go out and do short stints and push, it was good to do long stints and prepare myself for the longer races in Formula 1.” The Austin Grand Prix will give us our first glimpse of the pace Lawson is capable of keeping against Tsunoda, two drivers who could vie for the Red Bull seat in 2025 as the season draws to a close.
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