Liam Lawson admits that standing in the wings for most of last year watching his RB teammates Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo perform was a “really tough” experience. The Kiwi has explained why.
Lawson thrust himself into contention for a seat with Red Bull’s sister outfit for 2024, thanks to five strong cameo appearances midway through the 2023 season.
Red Bull gave their reserve driver his big break at the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, drafting him in to fill Ricciardo's seat after the Aussie broke his hand in Friday’s second practice.
Over five races, the Kiwi impressed with his pace and poise, proving he could hang with the big boys.
But when 2024 rolled around, Red Bull decided to stick with Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda for the Racing Bulls seats, relegating Lawson back to the reserve role.
For the young 22-year-old, stepping back into the shadows after tasting F1 felt like someone handed him a half-eaten slice of cake and told him to admire it from a distance.
“The reserve driver position before F1 was always tough, but it wasn’t that tough because I never knew what it was like to be in F1,” Lawson told Speedcafe.
“I would watch the sessions, I’d watch the guys climb into the car and talk to the engineers and do the grid, warm-up laps.
“I always imagined what it’d be like to be a Formula 1 driver.Then I got the chance to race in Zandvoort, and I did those five races, and had to step back.
“But stepping back and watching after that… that was really tough.”
For a driver who had fought tooth and nail to climb the motorsport ladder – with his parents even selling their house to support his early racing career – the step back was a bitter pill to swallow.
“I knew everything. I knew what it was like. Everything I was watching, I’d been there, I’d done it, and experienced and knew what it was like,” he continued.
“That was really, really tough, honestly, as a driver to watch that – also not knowing if I was going to get that chance again. That was the hardest part.”
But Lawson’s patience paid off. In the latter half of 2024, the team called the young driver back to action after Ricciardo bowed out, this time for the final six races.
Lawson didn’t waste his second chance, going toe-to-toe with Tsunoda and showcasing enough skill to grab the attention of Red Bull’s big bosses.
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By season’s end, Lawson had done the unthinkable: he’d earned a promotion to Red Bull Racing itself, taking over from Sergio Perez.
Now, he finds himself alongside none other than Max Verstappen – arguably the most formidable driver on the grid – as he prepares to tackle the 2025 F1 season.
Reflecting on his whirlwind journey, Lawson admitted that his full-time entry into the big-time was “surreal”.
“I’ve come here to the main factory across the street for six years now, as a junior, coming into the factory, looking at the trophies, working with the team, always imagining what that would be like to be a main driver for this team,” he recounted.
“It’s very surreal. Honestly, when I think about it now, it obviously hasn’t quite hit home yet. I’m just so excited.”
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From despair on the sidelines to the pinnacle of motorsport, Lawson’s journey is proof that patience, persistence, and a sprinkle of Kiwi grit can lead to extraordinary things.
As the 2025 season looms, the F1 world will be watching to see how far Lawson can go – and he, for one, seems more than ready to seize the moment.
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