Liam Lawson reveals Helmut Marko’s 6 am warning calls over performance
Liam Lawson breaks silence on Helmut Marko's warning calls, addressing the pressure to perform better and secure his future in F1.
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Helmut Marko and Liam Lawson (via IMAGO)
With Red Bull’s performance already in decline, they can’t afford any further decline. Dr. Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s advisor, is known for his ruthless and demanding approach with junior drivers. He sets high expectations and insists they consistently perform at the expected level. VCARB’s new driver, Liam Lawson reveals just how strict Marko has been with him in recent days. The 22-year-old will take the wheel for VCARB’s second car, starting at this weekend’s race in Austin.
After Daniel Ricciardo‘s exit from Red Bull, the Faenza-based squad replaced him with young talent Liam Lawson. Last year, the 22-year-old impressed when he substituted for Ricciardo during the latter’s injury. Seeing his performances, Dr. Helmut Marko promised him another chance if an opportunity arose.
After nearly a year on the sidelines, the New Zealander now has that opportunity. However, this comes with stricter rules. Lawson reveals Marko’s 6 a.m. calls, warning him to perform better or he’ll be in trouble. They don’t want to repeat Ricciardo’s struggles or let Haas, who are just three points behind, overtake them in the constructors’ standings.
It’s normally a 6am phone call or something like that! And it’ll be, You need to perform better.
Liam Lawson told F1 Nations Podcast.
After a year on the sidelines, Lawson feels the pressure with only six races left. He needs to outperform his teammate Yuki Tsunoda, to prove he’s the better driver and secure his spot for 2025. Rumors suggest that whoever performs better in the final races might get a chance to race alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull.
To make that happen, Lawson must score more points than Tsunoda to demonstrate his value. Marko warned him that if he doesn’t improve his performance, he risks jeopardizing his future with the team.
You know you need to basically win races. It’s quite often if you haven’t had a good race, if this continues, you may not have a future with this team.
Liam Lawson stated
Liam Lawson grateful for Helmut Marko’s strict warning calls
Lawson emphasized the highly competitive and ruthless nature of F1, where drivers and teams must continuously strive to outperform one another. He expresses his gratitude for the strict guidance he received from Helmut Marko, saying it has been crucial in preparing him for this moment in his career.
He acknowledges the significant pressure of stepping into the F1, especially with only a few races left in the season. Lawson believes that without the pressure and experience he gained over five years working with Marko, he wouldn’t have been able to handle the current situation effectively.
It’s very cutthroat. But, honestly, dealing with that, I’m so thankful to have gone through that with Helmut, honestly.
Liam Lawson expressed.
Certainly, Lawson has an excellent opportunity to showcase his abilities in the last six races and secure a permanent spot at RB or Red Bull. The season resumes this weekend in Austin, where Red Bull and Max Verstappen will also need to step up their performance. With teams having had ample time to develop their cars, the upcoming races are set to be highly competitive.
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Gaurang Kadam
(535 Articles Published)