Lawson faces grid penalty on F1 return as the Kiwi driver’s comeback to F1 will come with significant challenge – Liam Lawson, the 22-year-old rising star from New Zealand, is set to return to Formula One action at next month’s United States Grand Prix. However, his long-awaited return to the pinnacle of motorsport will come with a significant hurdle – a 10 place grid penalty before even turning a wheel.
This development has added an extra layer of difficulty to an already daunting task for the young driver as he seeks to make a lasting impression in the highly competitive world of F1.
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Lawson has been called up by Red Bull’s sister team, VCARB, as a replacement for the underperforming Daniel Ricciardo, who has struggled this season. The young Kiwi will step in for the final six races of the season, starting with the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.
This will be Lawson’s first race back in Formula One after a year’s absence and he will be tasked with proving his mettle against seasoned rivals.
The driver change comes as VCARB, Red Bull’s junior team, looks for stronger performances in the closing stages of the 2024 season. Daniel Ricciardo, who returned to F1 this year after a brief hiatus, has not delivered the results the team had hoped for, prompting the decision to hand the seat to Lawson, who has been waiting for his chance.
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Engine swap prompts penalty
Despite the excitement surrounding his return, Lawson’s debut race at Austin will be complicated by a grid penalty. It has been revealed that the 22-year-old will have to drop 10 places on the grid due to an engine swap. The penalty is linked to the power unit regulations, where exceeding the allotted number of engines for a season triggers automatic grid penalties.
Red Bull Motorsport Advisor Helmut Marko confirmed the news in an interview with Motorsport-Total, explaining the situation and how it will affect Lawson’s race weekend.
“The first [race] I don’t think will be relevant because he has an engine penalty,” Marko explained.
“Ten places in the sprint race, so that doesn’t make life any easier in Austin.” This penalty means that regardless of where Lawson qualifies, he will start the race well down the grid, making his task even more difficult.
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A difficult task ahead
Lawson himself has acknowledged the scale of the challenge ahead. In an interview with New Zealand’s Newstalk ZB, the Kiwi driver expressed his excitement tempered by the reality of the situation he faces.
“Obviously I’m very happy, but there are six rounds left in the season, so I’m coming at a difficult time,” said Lawson.
“It’s going to be a very challenging point. All these [riders] have done three quarters of a season now, so I’m going to have to try and compete with that – at tracks that I haven’t done as well.”
The United States Grand Prix will be held at the Circuit of the Americas, a track with which Lawson has limited experience, further complicating his return. His rivals will have the advantage of being up to speed after almost a full season of racing. Lawson, on the other hand, will have to get to grips with the car and the competition quickly if he is to achieve a strong result.
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A supportive network behind him
Despite the difficult circumstances, Lawson is determined to make the most of his opportunity. He has the support of his family and sponsors, many of whom have been with him since the early days of his racing career. Reflecting on the moment he learned of his return to F1, Lawson shared the emotional reaction of those closest to him.
“When I found out and I was able to call everyone, the first words or the first things they said, everyone including my dad, my mum and everyone, all the sponsors who have been behind me from day one, I could hear the relief in their voices before anything else,” he revealed.
“It wasn’t excitement, it was just pure relief, which is how I felt to be honest, because it’s obviously been a huge journey and a lot of people have put a lot into it, so it’s been very exciting.”
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Focus on the future
For Lawson, the next six races represent not only a return to the grid, but also a crucial opportunity to stake his claim for a more permanent place in Formula One. His performances will be scrutinised by both Red Bull and AlphaTauri as they assess the team’s driver line-up for the 2025 season. Despite the challenges posed by his grid penalty and lack of recent race experience, Lawson remains determined to put in a strong performance.
As he prepares for his first race back at the United States Grand Prix, Lawson’s focus will be on adapting quickly to the car, building speed throughout the weekend and recovering from the grid penalty to secure as many points as possible.
Lawson’s return to F1, while fraught with difficulty, represents a significant moment in his career. With the right combination of talent, resilience and support, he will hope to overcome the hurdles ahead and prove that he deserves to be a fixture on the Formula One grid.
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