Liam Lawson made a spectacular return to Formula 1 this weekend. After five stand-in appearances in 2023, he definitively took over the second Visa RB seat from Daniel Ricciardo in Austin. Despite a hefty grid penalty, the young New Zealander immediately finished in the points; he drove from nineteenth to ninth place. “I never expected that,” he responded proudly.
“I think we’ve made a big step compared to the sprint race,” Lawson told Formula1.com. “Of course, you never know how a Grand Prix will turn out. But it’s very positive to see that we’ve made such a clear step. The goal was just to reach the finish line and build a bit of confidence in the car. I never expected to finish in the top ten.”
“I ignored all the speculation leading up to this weekend,” Lawson said about his preparation. “I just wanted to focus on racing. These last Grands Prix are very important to me, I know that all too well. I want a seat in Formula 1 next year, but I have to prove myself first.” The New Zealander, like teammate Yuki Tsunoda, is eyeing a spot at Red Bull.
‘Feeling More Comfortable’
Over the past year, Liam Lawson has had to watch from the sidelines. Only after the Singapore GP did the former reserve driver learn that he would get a chance at Visa RB. How do his simulator laps compare to the real thing? “Thanks to the mechanics, I’m feeling more and more comfortable in the car,” Lawson said. “We’ve been quite aggressive with the changes we’ve made this weekend.”
“I’m incredibly grateful to the team for all their hard work,” concluded the 22-year-old driver. “They’ve really been working overtime in recent weeks to make me feel at ease. That it turns out so well is always a great feeling.
