Liam Lawson and George Russell tested for Pirelli in Monza

After a busy week at the Italian Grand Prix, the grid is still not leaving the Monza circuit. The two-week break until Baku has allowed Pirelli to set up new tests for next year’s tire compounds.

This time, a new team is getting into the game. Red Bull’s young reserve driver, Liam Lawson, took the wheel of the RB20 this Tuesday in Italy. He was seen alongside George Russell in his Mercedes W15 and will have another run this Wednesday with the VCARB01. This testing session is part of the tire development program of Pirelli. It will help evaluate potential compounds for next year’s sets.

The last sessions for 2024

This is not the first time that Pirelli tests have taken place this season. Following Alpine at Spa-Francorchamps, Monza is no exception. The test sessions organized by Pirelli are essential for evaluating the compounds and constructions of the tires for the 2025 season. With the data collected, Pirelli will be able to ensure the safety and performance of the driver, as well as determine the tires to be made available for each Grand Prix. On this occasion, three teams will remain on the track. Red Bull, Mercedes, and RB will conduct two days of testing at Monza on September 3 and 4.

Pirelli tests evaluate the race situation with the current Formula 1 cars. During this period, teams are not allowed to make any modifications to the single-seater or adjust configurations. The car must remain identical to the one from the last Grand Prix date. The teams have no information about the tires fitted to their car. They must drive with those given by the FIA, but no information is provided even during the test.

Other tests are also underway with Ferrari and their SF-24 at Fiorano in Italy. This time, the Italian team will focus on tire compounds in wet track conditions. For the session, reserve driver Oliver Bearman took the wheel. Ollie Bearman will join the Haas team full-time next year as he already replaces Kevin Magnussen in Baku after his suspension.

An opportunity for Liam Lawson

Liam Lawson has been involved with Red Bull since his Formula 2 years. While his name is no longer on the grid this year, he has remained a reserve driver for both teams of the company. Last year, the young New Zealand driver made headlines by replacing Daniel Ricciardo in several Grand Prix races. In his first race with the team, Liam Lawson managed to reach thirteenth position. By the end of the third race in Singapore, he finally managed to secure 2 points after finishing the race in ninth place.

On Tuesday, he was behind the wheel of the Red Bull RB20, under the Lombardy sky. Despite less than ideal conditions, Liam Lawson completed 104 laps. His best time was set at 1:22.126 on the Pirelli test tires. In comparison, George Russell and his Mercedes were much quicker that day. The Briton clocked a best time of 1:20.747 after completing a total of 127 laps. The New Zealand driver will have another chance to do better, carrying out further tests with Racing Bulls this Wednesday. Given the current issues with the RB20, Liam Lawson could well beat his record.

The future of Liam Lawson could hinge on these two private testing sessions. If the driver has not had the opportunity to take part in a race yet, Helmut Marko, the head of Red Bull, announced that they would find him a seat by September. At the moment, three out of four seats are taken for the 2025 season. The last available seat is that of Daniel Ricciardo, a team protege since his return to Red Bull last year. With a good time in the Pirelli tests, Liam Lawson could secure the remaining seat.

Another option for the New Zealander would be Sergio Pérez’s departure from Red Bull. The Mexican driver has been warned several times by the team’s leaders. Although he has been re-signed for another season, Red Bull is known for not having trouble changing drivers. Recently, the difficulties with Max Verstappen’s RB20 could still play in his favor. While he has stated that he has had the same problems with his car since the beginning of the season, Red Bull’s future solution may solve Sergio Pérez’s problem. In which case, Liam Lawson may have to say goodbye to his future in the team.