F1 Dutch GP: Liam Lawson recalls tough debut as “a fight for survival”. Liam Lawson recalls his challenging F1 debut at the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix.

F1 | Lawson blunt: “It was a fight for survival” – Dutch GP

The 2023 Dutch Grand Prix marked Liam Lawson’s Formula 1 debut, but for the New Zealander, the Zandvoort circuit evokes bittersweet memories. Lawson was called up to replace Daniel Ricciardo, who had injured his hand during the free practice sessions. However, his first F1 race proved far from simple, as heavy rain affected the entire event.

During a recent media session, Lawson revisited those memories and shared how he truly experienced his debut. While many drivers remember their first race in the pinnacle of motorsport with joy, for the VCarb driver, the experience was different.

A look back

Debuting in wet conditions on a track like Zandvoort is certainly not the ideal scenario. Lawson admitted: “You know, it’s strange because I don’t think of it as a happy memory. Most of the weekend was just fear and pressure. It was a very tough weekend. I think I was really relieved to get through it, and I learned a lot for the races that followed.”

The VCarb driver added: “But it wasn’t a fun weekend. No, honestly it wasn’t. It was so chaotic; qualifying was very complicated, and the race was even more difficult. It was truly a fight for survival, trying to absorb everything I could. I remember that for around 20 laps the track dried out, and I managed to find some rhythm and enjoy it. Then it started raining again and the race was suspended. So, it wasn’t a particularly enjoyable experience.”

Looking for redemption

Two years later, Lawson is set to return to the Dutch GP, and rain seems likely once again. However, his previous experience will surely help him maintain the rhythm he has shown in recent races. Lawson explained the challenges of the circuit: “It’s very demanding. Physically, it’s tough, with many banked corners and generally very high-speed sections with few straights. Actually, the main straight is very short, so it’s really physically taxing. But it’s exciting, it demands a lot of effort; it’s one of those tracks where we don’t spend much time.”

Liam Lawson concluded: “I know it’s a track I haven’t raced on in a while, but it has a bit of an old-school feel in the way it’s designed, with walls very close to the track. So it’s thrilling to drive, and I’m confident that this weekend I should have more fun, hopefully, compared to last time.”