Last Updated on September 29 2024, 9:07 am

Following the Singapore Grand Prix, the Racing Bulls confirmed that 22-year-old New Zealander Liam Lawson will replace Daniel Ricciardo in their second cockpit for the remainder of the 2024 Formula One season. While this is an exciting opportunity for Lawson, it is by no means a guarantee of a permanent seat in 2025.

The young driver now faces the challenge of proving himself worthy of keeping his seat, with competition from up-and-coming talents such as Isack Hadjar adding to the pressure.

Ecclestone verdict on Schumacher F1 return

 

 

 

Temporary opportunity for Lawson

In a recent interview with the *New Zealand Herald*, Lawson acknowledged the short-term nature of his position.

“I’ve got until the end of the season,” Lawson said.

“I’ll find out more as the season goes on. But for now, yeah, it’s these six races.” The youngster is under no illusions – his future with the team will depend entirely on how he performs over the rest of the season.

The Racing Bulls’ decision to give Lawson this opportunity comes after he filled in for Daniel Ricciardo when the Australian injured his hand at Zandvoort. Lawson competed in five race weekends and impressed many by finishing all five Grands Prix. Notable results included a ninth-place finish in the challenging Singapore Grand Prix and a strong race performance against team-mate Yuki Tsunoda, although he struggled in qualifying and lost the duel 2-4.

In the actual races, however, Lawson’s performance was better, winning the head-to-head 4-2 against Tsunoda and taking two important points in Singapore, while Tsunoda failed to score any.

Lawson now faces a make-or-break period, with just six races left to consolidate his position for the 2025 season. To earn a regular seat, Lawson knows he must continue to perform: “I have to perform. I have to prove myself in F1 and do a similar job to last year. That’s how I’ve earned this new opportunity,” he stressed.

New role for Ricciardo at Red Bull

 

 

 

 

The challenge of internal competition: Hadjar in waiting

The stakes are high for Lawson as Red Bull’s talent pool is deep with a number of young drivers eyeing his seat. Red Bull’s motorsport consultant, Helmut Marko, has made it clear that Lawson’s future is not certain. “We have a good number of young drivers,” said Marko, referring to Hadjar, Lawson and Iwasa.

“We want comparisons: Where is Lawson compared to Yuki [Tsunoda]? To know for the future: What will be the driver pairing for our two teams?”

Marko will be watching Lawson’s performance over the next six races to decide whether he deserves a full-time seat in 2025.

Lawson’s path is far from easy, however, with Isack Hadjar emerging as a major contender. Hadjar, a 20-year-old Frenchman, currently competes in Formula 2 and sits an impressive second in the championship standings, just four and a half points behind leader Gabriel Bortoleto, a McLaren junior.

If Lawson fails to deliver the “objective results” that Marko expects, Hadjar may well get his chance in F1, putting even more pressure on Lawson.

Marko played down expectations for Lawson’s upcoming debut in Austin, admitting that a 10-place grid penalty for an engine downgrade would make things difficult for the young driver.

“His first appearance in Austin will not be relevant because he has an engine downgrade. Ten places in the sprint race doesn’t make life any easier,” said the Austrian.

Lawson to be “evaluated” with no guarantees for 2025

 

 

Legend unleashes fury after Verstappen sanctions

 

 

 

Ricciardo’s dilemma and behind-the-scenes battles

Interestingly, Lawson revealed that he had known about his promotion to the Racing Bulls seat for several weeks, well before the news was made public. The situation was challenging for Lawson, who described it as “not good”.

He explained, “Singapore was not a great weekend for me. We all knew what was going to happen. The timing of Ricciardo’s official departure was delayed, likely due to contractual obligations with sponsors, adding to the awkwardness.

Despite this, Lawson had nothing but praise for Ricciardo, noting the veteran driver’s professional handling of the situation.

“Daniel was very good to me when I filled in for him last year. Even this season I never felt like I was in competition with him,” said Lawson.

Lawson’s respect for Ricciardo runs deep.

“I have a lot of respect for the way he handled the whole thing,” he added, acknowledging the greater public scrutiny Ricciardo faced as a much more famous driver. Lawson appreciated the dignity with which Ricciardo deflected questions about his impending driver change, further endearing him to the young Kiwi.

Update: Steiner vs Haas court case

 

 

 

A future in the balance

For Liam Lawson, the 2024 Formula One season represents the opportunity of a lifetime, but one fraught with uncertainty and immense pressure. With just six races to prove himself, competition within the Red Bull talent pool will be fierce. While Lawson has proven his ability, his future depends on delivering strong performances in a short space of time.

Isack Hadjar is waiting in the wings and Helmut Marko’s public comments underline just how much is at stake for Lawson. With the backing of Ricciardo and a solid track record from last year, the young New Zealander knows he must seize this moment. His F1 career may well depend on it.

READ MORE: ‘Russell is faster than Hamilton’

 

 

 

MORE F1 NEWS – Lawson penalty issued

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…READ MORE ON THIS STORY