Liam Lawson’s F1 career depends on US GP debut
Liam Lawson's future in Formula 1 depends on his performance at the US GP after the Kiwi driver replaces Daniel Ricciardo.
Liam Lawson and Max Verstappen (via IMAGO)
Red Bull shocked the entire F1 paddock after Daniel Ricciardo admitted that he would no longer be racing for RB after the Singapore GP. This has brought all attention to Liam Lawson as the Kiwi driver is expected to take over Ricciardo’s seat from the US Grand Prix.
Liam Lawson has been waiting for the sidelines for quite a while now. The 22-year-old impressed many when he subbed in for Daniel Ricciardo late last year. Lawson had even managed to outqualify Max Verstappen at last season’s Singapore GP.
Now, the Kiwi driver will finally get to return to the pinnacle of motorsport with a full-time seat for 2025 on the cards. As such, many believe that the US GP could be the make or break point in Liam Lawson’s career. It must be noted that RB has not officially announced Lawson as its driver for the race in COTA just yet.
Liam Lawson to not get a second chance with Red Bull
Red Bull used to be known for its ruthless driver program. Nyck de Vries was a victim of this philosophy after he was sacked just ten races into 2023. Fans could argue that Daniel Ricciardo has finally faced a similar fate. Now, all eyes will be on Liam Lawson.
Lawson will need to showcase the same performance he did last season. High expectations will be on the Kiwi driver as he set a high bar during his first F1 outing. As such, Red Bull would not be happy if the 23-year-old does not get close to Yuki Tsunoda‘s pace from the get-go.
If Liam Lawson manages to deliver from the US GP, he could potentially even replace Sergio Perez at Red Bull next season. Although, the Kiwi driver will really need to be brilliant for such a quick promotion to Milton Keynes.
Nevertheless, it is clear that Lawson is Red Bull’s long-term bet. The 23-year-old will undoubtedly race for the Austrian team in the near future. However, any mistake during the US GP could derail Lawson’s prospects and he might become just another one of many who were sacked by the Red Bull driver program.
Armaan Agarwal
(2018 Articles Published)