Lawson replaces Ricciardo
The news that everyone had been expecting since the Singapore GP weekend has arrived without surprises: Liam Lawson will replace Daniel Ricciardo at the wheel of the Racing Bulls for the last six races of the 2024 F1 season. The almost predictable outcome of the latest twist in the most explosive driver market of the decade. The 22-year-old New Zealander had a clause in his contract that would allow him to free himself from obligations with the Red Bull family if he did not receive a promotion to Formula 1 by the end of September. But it’s also clear that, behind Daniel Ricciardo’s dismissal and Liam Lawson’s appointment, a much bigger game may already be in play for 2025.
Who is Liam Lawson?
It must be said that his journey among the young talents was not exactly that of a prodigy. Second in F4 Australia in 2017 and also in the German F4 in 2018, then fifth in his second year in F3 in 2020, and third in his second year in F2 in 2022. Finally, second again in 2023 in the Japanese Super Formula championship, which is as close to F1 as it gets in terms of speed and aerodynamic load of the cars. However, in the midst of this, five GPs in Formula 1 – raced as Ricciardo’s substitute after he injured his left hand during Friday’s free practice at Zandvoort – changed his perception, probably convincing Helmut Marko to forget about his not-so-irresistible record in the junior series.
In those first five GPs in Formula 1, Lawson appeared to be a mature, ready, and fast driver. Even mentally solid, capable of holding his own without stress in the internal competition with the more experienced Yuki Tsunoda – in Suzuka, there were even some radio clashes between the two during the GP – and even managing to reach Q3 in Singapore, knocking out none other than Max Verstappen before finishing the race in the points. From today, however, he will no longer be the angel-faced, ice-eyed kid called at the last minute to replace Ricciardo and limit the damage, but the rising star who ended the career of a much-loved driver. It may seem minor, but it makes all the difference in the world.
The unfortunate insults on social media
It’s no coincidence that the usual idiots on social media have unfairly commented on the post where Lawson proudly announced that he will race the upcoming GPs with Racing Bulls. “I’ve always dreamed of being a Formula 1 driver,” he wrote on Instagram, “since I was a kid, and today I’m happy to say that my dream has finally come true. I want to thank Racing Bulls and Red Bull for this opportunity. I’m extremely grateful and excited to get to work.” A job that will be incredibly tough: he’ll have to get behind the wheel of a car he barely knows, and yet immediately go fast without making excuses, to prove that disrespecting Daniel Ricciardo by dismissing him mid-season was the only possible option at this point in the season.
The casting for Red Bull 2025
A task that is already difficult in itself, but that Red Bull could make even harder by adding that extra bit of pressure looking towards 2025. The paddock rumor already says that, beyond the legal technicalities, the choice to put the 22-year-old New Zealander in the car for the last six GPs could be nothing more than a sort of Marko-style casting for the role of Verstappen’s deputy next season. With Sergio Perez – as usual – on the hot seat despite his contract already signed until 2026, winning the internal challenge with Tsunoda could mean much more than just a “simple” ticket for a world tour with Racing Bulls. If things go badly… Next one, please.
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