Red Bull are considering their options for possible Sergio Perez replacements as the Mexican driver enters the final season of his contract and is in danger of losing his place.
Liam Lawson, a rising star in Formula 1, has received high praise from a Formula 1 legend who described him as “exceptional.” This endorsement has further fueled the calls for Lawson to secure a permanent race seat in the sport.
Despite having limited F1 experience, with only five races under his belt as a stand-in for the injured Daniel Ricciardo last year, Lawson has managed to impress many with his skills and potential.
Unfortunately, the 21-year-old will have to wait patiently for his opportunity. Red Bull, his current team, considered placing him in their sister team for the upcoming 2024 season. However, team advisor Helmut Marko ultimately decided to retain Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda.
Nevertheless, there is a possibility that a seat may open up for Lawson in the near future. Sergio Perez, who currently races for the main Red Bull team, is facing scrutiny due to his performance. If he fails to improve, he may be replaced mid-season, potentially leading to Ricciardo’s promotion and creating an opportunity for Lawson.
It is highly likely that Lawson will be promoted from his reserve role to a race seat due to recent developments. Even if it doesn’t happen during the current season, there’s a good chance he will be on the grid for the 2025 campaign.
According to the new CEO Peter Bayer, former AlphaTauri team principal Franz Tost initially had doubts about Lawson’s abilities. However, young driver chief Marko and F1 race-winner Gerhard Berger endorsed him, which convinced Red Bull to sign him.
Bayer explained that Gerhard was impressed with Lawson’s performance in the DTM, describing him as “bloody amazing” and a big fan of his racing style. While Franz was initially skeptical, Helmut and Christian Horner had a long discussion and ultimately agreed that Lawson had the potential. This led to him being given the reserve role.
Last year, Lawson stepped in for Ricciardo at Zandvoort with very little notice, as Ricciardo had injured his left hand in a practice crash. It was even more challenging for Lawson because AlphaTauri’s car was struggling to compete for points at that time.
However, the New Zealander still impressed with his drives, finishing 13th and 11th in the Netherlands and at Monza respectively. The team’s best result of the season came in Singapore, where upgrades gave them a much-needed boost, and Lawson played a crucial role in achieving that. He continued his strong performance with another 11th-place finish in Japan before ending the season with a slightly disappointing performance at the Qatar Grand Prix.
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