Liam Lawson expects a very difficult start to the season at Red Bull
The New Zealander, the new teammate of Max Verstappen at Red Bull, is concerned about his start to the season. The former F2 driver stated that he will likely lack pace on circuits he is unfamiliar with.
A challenging adaptation ahead. Promoted to Red Bull this season, Liam Lawson expects to experience some challenging first races. Although his dream of racing for Red Bull has come true, he knows the pressure is high and he will need to perform. Nonetheless, his lack of experience, combined with tracks he is not accustomed to driving on, makes the task more difficult.
Several routes that he will discover for the first time
« I think the start of the season will be the hardest. Discovering several unknown circuits from the start will be very, very difficult », he told the media at a press conference. « I’ve only finished races, but I’ve never really competed in a full season. So I think the start of the season will be the most complicated. This season, especially at the beginning of the year, I will discover many circuits where I have never raced. It’s a new team with high expectations, which is very exciting, but I also expect it to be the hardest year I’ve ever experienced. »
Despite everything, the New Zealander, a former F2 driver, is very eager to start this new adventure, which will be his first full F1 season after replacing Daniel Ricciardo twice at AlphaTauri during the season. “I am very excited about Melbourne and the start of the season. There are many great circuits that I have never done and that I think I will enjoy, like Melbourne. China looks like a fantastic circuit, and Canada is a place where I have always wanted to race. At the same time, it’s what motivates me the most, discovering these new circuits.”
Performing alongside Max Verstappen: a true challenge for Lawson
Moreover, the pressure will be even greater for the New Zealand driver. In addition to having to discover new tracks and adapt to his new car, he will face Max Verstappen, the four-time reigning world champion. Even though he considers himself lucky to be his teammate, he knows he will have to meet Red Bull’s expectations and stay close to the Dutchman at the risk of suffering the same fate as Gasly, Albon, or more recently Perez, who all eventually left the Austrian team. « Having someone as fast and competitive as a teammate brings its own set of challenges. For me, the key will be to make the most of it. » Despite everything, Liam Lawson tries to take this positively, explaining that having the Dutch driver as a teammate will allow him to learn alongside one of the best drivers on the grid.
« But at the same time, there has never been a better opportunity than having someone like him as a teammate, someone who has been in this team for 10 years and has just won the last four world championships. There is no one better to set me on the right track, because all our data will be shared. For me, it’s a great opportunity to learn. There is no one better for making progress. So, it’s very exciting. »
Although the season has not yet started, several drivers are already under pressure, like the New Zealander. Will he be able to perform better than his predecessors? We’ll find out on March 16 in Melbourne.
