Liam Lawson at Visa Cash App Racing Bulls: « I have always had Red Bull in mind

Lawson, who had replaced Ricciardo during a series of five races in 2023, expressed his relief at this new opportunity in an interview with RacingNews365. “I haven’t had an easy year. Last year I was able to participate in a few F1 races, while this year I was sidelined,” he said during the interview.

A close proximity to the paddock

The 22-year-old New Zealander provided an overview of the challenges he faced during his time away from competitions: « At the same time, without these races last year, I would not have been eligible for the seat now. However, I learned a lot this year in my reserve driver role. Formula 1 is so different from other racing series, so it allowed me to learn a lot this year. You can’t compare this category to other races.

Read also: Liam Lawson replaces Daniel Ricciardo at Racing Bulls

Lawson highlighted the benefits of his continuous presence in the paddock, especially in understanding team dynamics. “Being present with the team has brought me a lot. I learned a lot during each race I attended in the paddock, especially in terms of communication within the team. I’m talking about communication among the engineers. There is really a lot happening on that front.”

His relationship with Ricciardo

Although he has taken Ricciardo’s place, Lawson highlighted the good relationship they have. « Daniel helped me last year, and we always had good contacts this year. He has always been a great help to me », he declared. Rejecting the existence of a direct rivalry between them, the New Zealand driver added « It was not just a fight between him and me. In Formula 1, you are fighting against everyone to get or keep a seat. »

Also read: Daniel Ricciardo fired from Racing Bulls

Lawson clarified the nature of this relationship by saying: “We fight to survive in Formula 1. But between him and me, it has never been like that, maybe it’s because we are at different stages of our careers, but it has always gone well between us.”

Under the wing of Red Bull, the winding path to F1

Lawson revisited his career, which has always been closely linked to the Red Bull program, expressing his gratitude to Helmut Marko for spotting him and recruiting him at the age of 16. « To be honest, Red Bull Racing has always been on my mind. Of course, if they had told me they didn’t want to continue with me, I would have explored other possibilities. However, I’ve always had Red Bull in mind and I’m happy that an opportunity has now arisen. »

The young driver continued by recalling the years spent with Red Bull: “I have been with Red Bull for six years, which is why I have always aspired to race for the Red Bull family. That’s why I am also very grateful to Helmut because he spotted me years ago during the Toyota Racing Series in New Zealand when I was 16. Then, he made sure that I could make it to Formula 1. He told me at the time that his goal was to get me into Formula 1, and he achieved it. That’s why I am very grateful to him because without him, it wouldn’t have been possible.”

Lawson also acknowledged the support of Red Bull team principal Christian Horner and the entire Red Bull organization. “I am also very grateful to Christian Horner. He is a man of his word. The whole Red Bull family as well, they have dedicated a tremendous amount of effort and time to me. Not only for the hours spent in the simulator but also for the testing days I was able to complete. These are important hours I was able to spend on track, and also prepare my body for Grand Prix weekends.”

Six races to convince, Lawson’s challenge

Lawson will take up his new position at Visa Cash App Racing Bulls during the United States Grand Prix, alongside Yuki Tsunoda. Team principal Laurent Mekies welcomed Lawson’s return: “It’s great to see young talents from the Red Bull family move up to the next level. We are ready to dive into the work and focus together on the rest of the season.”

Read also: Is it really the end of Daniel Ricciardo’s F1 career?

Although Lawson’s confirmation is currently limited to the remaining races of the 2024 season, the young driver’s performances could play a crucial role in Red Bull’s driver choices for 2025 and beyond. Indeed, Lawson now has an ideal opportunity to demonstrate his talent and claim his place in Formula 1 in the long term.