Lawson bracing for 'very challenging' F1 comeback in Austin
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Liam Lawson anticipates an uphill battle when he returns to the F1 grid at the US GP in Austin this month, joining the fray for the final six races of the season against rivals who have been competing all year and are fully in tune with their cars.
Lawson, who temporarily replaced an injured Daniel Ricciardo last season at AlphaTauri, will be taking over the Australian's seat in Red Bull's sister outfit for the remainder of the year after the Australian driver was dropped by the team after the Singapore GP.
While he gained valuable experience during his five-race stint in 2023, Lawson knows that rejoining the grid this late in the season presents significant challenges, particularly in terms of his lack of experience with F1's current machinery.
"It's six rounds left of the season, so I've come in at a, you know, difficult time," Lawson told New Zealand's Newstalk ZB. "It's going to be a very challenging point.
"Obviously, all these guys have done three quarters of a season now, so I have to try and compete with that now at tracks that I haven't done as well. It's going to be challenging."
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Lawson's situation is unique compared to last season, where his race-by-race future was uncertain and dependent on Ricciardo's recovery.
This time, the drive is firmly his for the final six rounds, giving him a more stable platform to showcase his abilities.
Having served as a reserve driver for Red Bull and RB since 2022, Lawson has accumulated plenty of mileage through Friday practice sessions and test outings in older-spec cars.
Yet, he acknowledges that stepping into a competitive race environment, where his rivals are familiar with their machinery and the circuits, is a different kind of pressure. He will need to quickly get up to speed with his car while racing on tracks he hasn't competed on in an F1 race.
But the 22-year-old charger is determined to prove his worth and secure his future in Formula 1.
"I need to perform," Lawson stated. "Basically, I need to try and obviously show my worth in F1 and, I would say do a similar job to what I did last year.
"What's given me the shot now is what happened last year."
Lawson made an impression during his brief stint last year, particularly with a strong points finish in Singapore, which was the best result for the RB team at that point in the season.
That performance earned him the respect of Red Bull's senior management, including motorsport advisor Dr. Helmut Marko, who has been a key advocate of Lawson's talents.
©RB
While Lawson's future beyond this season has yet to be formally confirmed, it is believed that a contract for 2025 is in place, although the finer details are reportedly still being finalized.
The flexibility in this arrangement means that Lawson could be placed in either of Red Bull's teams, depending on how the rest of the season unfolds.
Though Red Bull Racing team boss Christian Horner has publicly backed Sergio Perez to remain alongside Max Verstappen for 2025, Lawson's presence adds a layer of intrigue.
Should Lawson demonstrate the same form that caught everyone's attention last year, he could very well make himself a compelling option for the Milton Keynes-based outfit.
For now, Lawson's focus is firmly on the present. With six races left, starting in Austin, he knows this is his chance to make a lasting impression.
As he said himself, the goal is clear: "I just need to do enough to stay in the seat next year."
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