Liam Lawson, still a reserve driver within the Red Bull family, eagerly watches the drivers who have secured a spot on the grid. The 22-year-old New Zealander has great respect for Max Verstappen, who is now fighting for his fourth title. As Lawson waits for a chance to make a comeback in the sport, he sees Verstappen breaking numerous records.
When Daniel Ricciardo dropped out in 2023 with a broken wrist, he was replaced by Liam Lawson for five race weekends. The young driver achieved good results in the then AlphaTauri and is still waiting for a chance to return to the premier class. Meanwhile, he learns from Max Verstappen, who leads the championship in an enviable manner.
Max Verstappen’s Unique Approach to Racing
In a conversation with TalkSport, Liam Lawson explained what sets Verstappen apart from the rest. “It seems quite clear to me that Max doesn’t care what others think of him,” said Lawson. “Personally, I think it would be pretty cool to be hated, purely because you win so much. He’s not concerned with that at all. He also has a huge fan base, so he doesn’t have to worry about anything.”
‘He is Mentally the Strongest’
Lawson recalls how Verstappen coached him when he suddenly made his debut with AlphaTauri in 2023. “Max’s room was next to mine,” the New Zealander shared. “He came to visit me to give me a boost. He said I should just enjoy it. His advice never has to do with driving, it’s always mental things.”
“Mentally, he is just so strong – perhaps the strongest of all,” concluded Lawson. “He doesn’t let anything throw him off. So it was nice to be able to talk to him when I was in such a situation.”
