In just over a month and a half, Lawson will begin his Formula 1 adventure as a Red Bull driver, starting with pre-season testing and the first race in Melbourne. While not his homeland, Australia is as close to home as the calendar gets.
For the New Zealander, this marks the beginning of an incredibly challenging chapter, in which many drivers have struggled in recent seasons. This is due to both the complexity of the Red Bull environment and the dominance of Max Verstappen, who has left little room for teammates. This is precisely one of the reasons why Milton Keynes decided to bet on Lawson, considered the strongest driver mentally among those in its academy.
It’s no secret that Yuki Tsunoda had long hoped for a promotion, even stating a few months ago that he didn’t know what else he needed to prove to earn a move to the senior team. However, despite showing significant improvement compared to 2021 and 2022, the Japanese driver never fully convinced Red Bull.
The prevailing belief is that Yuki has already reached his potential after four years with AlphaTauri, while Lawson, who showed comparable performance in the few races they competed in together, is believed to have a greater margin for growth.
Red Bull sees a brighter future for Lawson than Yuki Tsunoda and considers his mental resilience, repeatedly emphasized by Helmut Marko, a key factor in avoiding failure. On this front, Lawson feels prepared, especially since the pressure from Red Bull to deliver results has been relentless throughout his junior career, leaving no room to breathe.
“I think in the last six years within the Red Bull environment, I’ve always been under pressure. It’s been like this since I was 16, when they signed me,” the New Zealander told *Stuff* during one of the Formula Regional Oceania races in New Zealand, where another Red Bull talent, Arvid Lindblad, is competing for the title to earn superlicense points.
“Every two weeks, I’d get calls from Helmut saying, ‘Do your job, or you’re fired.’ For a young driver, moments like those obviously put immense pressure on you, but they also make you grow. So I feel like I’ve been raised for this.”
Over the years, Lawson has competed in various categories, even fighting for the DTM title, which he narrowly lost in a controversial final race, demonstrating a high degree of adaptability. Even the few Grands Prix he participated in during 2024 to secure his seat represented a high-pressure situation.
Not only was Lawson competing for a Red Bull seat against a driver with almost four years of Formula 1 experience, but he also stepped in mid-season. While Liam Lawson had already driven the VCARB01 in the simulator to assist with development, gaining on-track experience with the car and understanding its weaknesses was a significant advantage.
“I knew I had a chance to fight for the Red Bull seat. I knew the team was potentially looking to make a change given how things were going. I was in a good position to achieve it, but I was under pressure every week,” Lawson added.
“We were given very little information. I didn’t know exactly what was happening, just the bare minimum—that there was an opportunity and I needed to do a good job, which I tried to do.”
During his limited races in 2024, Liam Lawson demonstrated an aggressive driving style, earning criticism from Fernando Alonso and Sergio Perez. However, for the New Zealander, it was essential to prove he deserved a place in Formula 1 and the most coveted seat in the sport.
“I knew I had only five or six races to prove I was worthy of a spot in F1. Whether in VCARB or Red Bull, I had the opportunity to compete against these guys, especially Fernando [Alonso],” Lawson said when asked about his battles with Alonso.
“So I made the most of every single lap I drove, even though I had no intention of upsetting them. I just tried to race him [Alonso]. That’s how I race against other drivers, and that’s what I did. I just tried to make the most of this chance.”
There is still a month and a half until winter testing begins, but work behind the scenes at the factory will start much earlier, including simulator testing and preparations for the new season. Lawson has avoided setting lofty goals, knowing he still has much to learn and will be up against a teammate with four consecutive world titles.
Marko has stated he doesn’t expect Lawson to beat Verstappen but does expect him to stay within three-tenths to secure crucial points for the Constructors’ Championship. For his part, Lawson lacks experience on some circuits, including Australia, which he has only seen in the simulator, as he joined mid-season last year.
“Obviously, I need to be realistic. Realistically, I know there are still many tracks I’ve never driven on before, and it’s my first full season, so I don’t expect to go out there and immediately fight for wins with them [the top drivers]. However, I do expect to put in strong performances and do the job the team needs. And of course, I’m not here to lose,” Liam Lawson concluded.
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