Liam Lawson: « It will take time to get up to speed »
Supported by Red Bull, Liam Lawson approaches his first F1 season with modesty. The young New Zealand driver, who replaces Sergio Pérez, does not expect miracles from the first Grand Prix. His goal: to learn from Max Verstappen and discover all the new circuits for him.
Liam Lawson admitted that he should not be in a very competitive position when he makes his debut with Red Bull F1 on March 16 next year: « For me, there is really no expectation to go out on the field and start winning races right away. »
The New Zealander was promoted this season to the Austrian team, replacing Sergio Pérez, who had a difficult 2024 season with Red Bull. This promotion comes after he only took part in 11 Grand Prix: five in 2023 replacing the injured Daniel Ricciardo, and then six more last season following the Australian driver’s dismissal by Racing Bulls after the Singapore Grand Prix.
At 22, the young driver will face a significant challenge, as the first two competitions of the season will take place in Australia and China on tracks he hasn’t experienced yet: « The circuits where we will start will be particularly demanding since I have never raced on them before. For now, the goal is quite clear: from the car and team perspective, we want to adapt as quickly as possible and find the right rhythm. »
Lawson put to the test against Verstappen
Lawson will also be up against Max Verstappen, who has easily outperformed several of his former Red Bull teammates. When asked about his ability to focus on his own driving rather than on Verstappen’s, Lawson replied: « I will only find out once I’m in the race. » The New Zealand driver is the latest Red Bull junior to join the main team, a promotion in line with the Austrian team’s approach to establishing a consistent balance within its roster.
Lawson acknowledged that becoming competitive would take time, but he sees Verstappen’s speed and experience as assets to assist and inspire him: « Obviously, it will take time to get up to speed. For me, the goal is to achieve this as quickly as possible. I haven’t set any specific expectations or deadlines, it’s simply about progressing effectively. Having Max as a teammate is very valuable for learning, as I can learn from everything he does. There’s really no one better positioned for that. It’s more about making the most of it, rather than putting additional pressure on myself. »
